Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe. (Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Newcastle United have three matches remaining to secure a spot in next season's Champions League.
The Magpies are currently in fourth place in the Premier League standings and will need to finish in the top-five in order to qualify for the Champions League. Newcastle are competing with Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa for a berth in the marquee European competition.
Eddie Howe's side will now play Chelsea at St James' Park this weekend in what could be a decisive match in the race for Champions League qualification. With three game left to go, it is still all to play for in the battle to qualify for the big one next season.
Here, ChronicleLive takes a look at how Newcastle's Premier League run-in compared to their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification;
Newcastle United
Newcastle have the advantage of playing two of their final three Premier League fixtures at home. St James' Park has proven itself to give Howe's team the added boost to get some important results this season.
Chelsea and Everton will both go to St James' Park while Newcastle have an away trip to Arsenal in the middle of those fixtures. All three games will present their own challenges, particularly Chelsea and Arsenal who are in direct competition for Champions League qualification.
May 11 vs Chelsea (H) at 12pm - Premier League
May 18 vs Arsenal (A) at 4.30pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Everton (H) at 4pm - Premier League
Arsenal
Arsenal have been in the Premier League title race until these past few weeks. Now, their task will be to rubber-stamp qualification for the Champions League - and they are still favourites to finish second.
However, the Gunners have an away trip to champions Liverpool at the weekend followed by a clash against the Magpies the following week. An away trip against already-relegated Southampton will be expected to result in all three points, yet anything but wins in the other two could make the top-five race very interesting.
May 11 vs Liverpool (A) at 4.30pm - Premier League
May 18 vs Newcastle United (H) at 4.30pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Southampton (A) at 4pm - Premier League
Manchester City
Man City have three very winnable games in their run-in, but face the prospect of going away from home twice across their last three matches.
City will go to Southampton this weekend as well as Fulham on the final day of the campaign, before hosting AFC Bournemouth in the middle. Nine points from nine will be expected, despite Pep Guardiola's side also having an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to prepare for.
May 10 vs Southampton (A) at 3pm - Premier League
May 20 vs Bournemouth (H) at 8pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Fulham (A) at 4pm - Premier League
Chelsea
Chelsea's win over Liverpool last weekend boosted their top-five hopes. Their next match will be against Newcastle, where the Magpies will look to stop their rivals from getting another advantage in the race for Champions League qualification.
There will also be a home clash against Manchester United in the run-in, before travelling to face another top-five rival in Nottingham Forest on the final day.
May 11 vs Newcastle United (A) at 12pm - Premier League
May 16 vs Manchester United (H) at 8pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Nottingham Forest (A) at 4pm - Premier League
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will hope to secure three points from each of their next two games to boost their top-five hopes. Leicester City at home and West Ham away await Forest, before hosting Chelsea on the final day of the campaign.
Nine points from nine available would almost certainly be enough for Forest to finish in the top-five.
May 11 vs Leicester City (H) at 2.15pm - Premier League
May 18 vs West Ham (A) at 2.15pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Chelsea (H) at 4pm - Premier League
Aston Villa
Aston Villa still have an outside chance of finishing in the top-five despite currently being in seventh with three matches left to play. Away trips to Bournemouth and Manchester United are on the horizon - as well as hosting Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park.
If Villa can win all three of their remaining games, then it would certainly force the likes of Chelsea, Forest and - even Newcastle - to be concerned about their place in the top-five.
May 10 vs Bournemouth (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League
May 16 vs Tottenham (H) at 7.30pm - Premier League
May 25 vs Manchester United (A) at 4pm - Premier League
How to follow our NUFC WhatsApp channel
Did you know you can now get Newcastle United stories on WhatsApp? As well as our NUFC communities, we also have a channel dedicated to sending you the best news, opinion and analysis on all things black-and-white.
All you have to do is follow our channel on WhatsApp by clicking this link or you can find us by searching Chronicle Newcastle United.
Updates will then automatically appear if you select the Updates option on your WhatsApp menu and selecting the 'Chronicle - Newcastle United' channel. It's as easy as that. There are already thousands signed up, but remember to turn your notifications on so don't miss out.