What Man City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest Need to Secure UCL

Arne Slot-led Liverpool have been crowned champions and the three relegated teams – Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town – have been confirmed. As such, full attention has turned to which teams will occupy the five Champions League spots up for grabs with one match left to go in the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Thus far, Slot’s title-winning Reds and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been confirmed as two sides from England’s top flight who will play at Europe’s top table next season, but there are still three spots on offer thanks to England’s superior coefficient ranking.

Two of Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will be joining the aforementioned duo in dotting around the continent next season – but what do they all need to do on the final day to secure a Champions League spot?

Man City all-but confirmed; Forest in need of a decent weekend

Of course, the winner of the all-English Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will also secure passage into Europe’s primary club competition next season – but who will be joining Arsenal and Liverpool by virtue of their position in the Premier League standings?

As things stand, Pep Guardiola’s men are sitting in third – on 68 points – after their routine 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa follow in third, fourth and fifth, respectively, while the Garibaldi occupy sixth.

For Manchester City, thanks to their favourable goal difference, are pretty nailed-on for the top four. One point against Fulham on the final day should be good enough; all three points at Craven Cottage would secure their status as bronze medallists.

It’s slightly trickier for Eddie Howe and his entourage on Tyneside, who would be left somewhat vulnerable with anything but a win against Everton on the final day. A draw may prove to be sufficient, but the Magpies cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

Chelsea, who are managed by Enzo Maresca, are currently sat in fifth and take on none other than Nottingham Forest – who won the European Cup in back-to-back years in 1979 and 1980. A win would suffice but, should they taste defeat, they would also need Villa to lose.

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Talking of Unai Emery’s Villains, they are in need of a win against an out-of-sorts Manchester United – but they also require Chelsea to drop points in their final day showdown to ensure that 2025/26 Champions League football is nailed on.

An outsider’s shout given they narrowly escaped relegation last term, Nottingham Forest could make history by securing Champions League action – in order to do so, they have to win against Chelsea, all while hoping Villa drop points against the Red Devils.