· 6 May 2025, 13:30
**Nottingham Forest missed the chance to go level on points with Newcastle United and Chelsea on Monday night as they could only manage a draw with Crystal Palace.**
Forest's form is dipping at the wrong time from their perspective, but it's ideal for Newcastle United who have also dropped points in the all-important run-in.
Newcastle remain fourth in the Premier League thanks to Nottingham Forest's draw on Monday night, but Chelsea sit in fifth on the same points and same goal difference with the two sides set to meet on Sunday.
Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also face off on the last day of the season which will be huge for the Champions League picture.
Newcastle are close to Champions League nights returning to St James' Park
Newcastle need just six points to bag Champions League football
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Newcastle now know that if they pick up wins in both of their remaining home games, which are Chelsea on Sunday and Everton on the final day of the season, they will have done enough to secure a spot in the Champions League.
That takes the edge off the away game against Arsenal in between, but having already beaten Mikel Arteta's side three times this season, we expect to make it four from four.
If the Magpies beat Chelsea and Arsenal, then they're home free with a game to spare, as Aston Villa will need to win all three remaining games to reach the same points total, however, their goal difference is vastly inferior to Newcastle's.
Don't panic!
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So, six points from three games should do it for Newcastle, but there's nothing to say we can't pick up all nine to put it all beyond doubt.
We expect plenty more twists and turns as six teams scrap for four places, but Newcastle still have their own destiny in their hands.
If Newcastle fail to pick up anything on Sunday, then we can officially start to panic.