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The closing stages of the Premier League season will produce a fierce battle for the remaining Champions League spots.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have already booked their places in next season's competition, but two further Premier League sides will join them before the campaign concludes. A top-five finish will be sufficient, and even sixth place could potentially earn a Champions League berth.
At present, Liverpool sit in fourth place with 59 points, leading the pack. However, Aston Villa (58) have a game in hand over the Reds, while Bournemouth (55) and Brighton & Hove Albion (53) remain in contention with two matches still to play.
Here is a breakdown of the upcoming fixtures for the clubs chasing Champions League qualification.
Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Brighton's Remaining Fixtures
Liverpool | Aston Villa | Bournemouth | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
Burnley (A) – May 10 | |||
Aston Villa (A) – May 15 | Liverpool (H) – May 15 | Man City (H) – May 19 | Leeds (A) – May 17 |
Brentford (H) – May 24 | Man City (A) – May 24 | Nott'm Forest (A) – May 24 | Man Utd (H) – May 24 |
Liverpool currently hold the strongest position in the race for Champions League qualification, with a single win from either of their last two Premier League outings enough to secure a top-five place. That said, they face challenging encounters to close out the season.
The Reds will be eager to wrap up their Champions League spot next Friday, but must do so away against rivals Aston Villa. Just three points are needed, meaning even a draw at Villa Park could suffice depending on results elsewhere two days later.
Should Liverpool fail to clinch qualification in the Midlands, they may need to win their final home fixture against Brentford, a side who are themselves still pushing for a European place of some kind.
Aston Villa could play a pivotal role in shaping the Champions League picture. If Unai Emery's men win the Europa League final against Freiburg and then finish fifth in the league, the club finishing sixth in the Premier League would also earn a place in Europe's top club competition next season.
Villa will be keen to secure qualification before the Europa League final, however, and have the opportunity to do so in their away trip to Burnley this Sunday and their subsequent home clash with Liverpool. The last thing they'll want is to arrive at Manchester City on the final day still needing a result.
Bournemouth currently occupy sixth place, and their recent victory over Fulham has kept their Champions League aspirations alive. They are aware they face an uphill task, however, and will need at least one win from their remaining two fixtures to stay in the running. Consecutive victories would significantly improve their chances of sneaking into fifth.
The Cherries are riding a 15-game unbeaten streak, which means even their home encounter with Man City on May 19 holds no fear for them. Bournemouth then head to Nottingham Forest—who are still technically battling relegation—for Andoni Iraola's final match at the helm.
Brighton may feel they have left their Champions League challenge a little too late. Currently five points adrift of fifth, they must win both of their remaining matches while also relying on Villa to collect no more than one point from their final three games, or Liverpool to drop points in both of their last outings.
With sixth place potentially also offering a route into the Champions League, Fabian Hürzeler and his squad will be determined to take maximum points from their away fixture at Leeds United and their home game against Manchester United that follows.