The penultimate weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season is here – and it kicks off tonight!
The 7.30pm kick-off sees Aston Villa host Spurs live on Sky Sports, with fellow top-five rivals Chelsea then taking on Man Utd at Stamford Bridge from 8.15pm, also picked for Sky coverage.
Champions League football is in our hands – win one of our last two games and it’s ours – but there is a way in which Newcastle can secure a spot in Europe’s top competition TONIGHT.
They may have one eye on next week’s Europa League final and sit 17th and 16th in the table for a reason, but Spurs and Man Utd could do Newcastle one almighty favour tonight.
If Aston Villa lose to Spurs and Chelsea fail to beat Man Utd this evening, Newcastle United will secure Champions League qualification for 2025/26.
An unlikely scenario, I know, but there’s also this. If Aston Villa draw with Spurs tonight, Newcastle will only need a point at Arsenal on Sunday (or from our final two games) to make certain of a top-five finish.
As things stand, this is the Premier League table heading into tonight’s games.
1. **Liverpool** – 83pts (+46 GD)
2. **Arsenal** – 68pts (+33 GD)
3. **Newcastle** – 66pts (+23 GD)
4. **Man City** – 65pts (+24 GD)
5. **Chelsea** – 63pts (+19 GD)
6. **Aston Villa** – 63pts (+7 GD)
7. **Nottingham Forest** – 62pts (+12 GD)
One win will do it, as Aston Villa won’t be able to overturn the goal difference gap, even with two wins, while one of (or both) Nottingham Forest or Chelsea will drop points when they meet on the final day.
Two wins and we’ll secure second spot above Arsenal and Man City, handing Newcastle the opportunity to pull off a dream end to the season just two months on from our Carabao Cup win at Wembley.
A huge 10 days await. Here is who Newcastle and each of our top-five rivals are due to face:
**Newcastle** – Arsenal (A), Everton (H)
**Chelsea** – Man Utd (H), Nottingham Forest (A)
**Nottingham Forest** – West Ham (A), Chelsea (H)
**Aston Villa** – Tottenham (H), Man Utd (A)
**Man City** – Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)