Newcastle United are aiming to qualify for the Champions League
Newcastle United are aiming to qualify for the Champions League
Newcastle United hold a big advantage over their Premier League rivals when it comes to a top five finish this season, with the Magpies one of only THREE sides in the top 14 who can now focus entirely on league football.
Following their Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool last weekend, Eddie Howe's side are now fully focused on a return to the Champions League. To do that, they must finish in the top five - but the battle is getting intense as we enter the final straight of the season.
While Liverpool appear to be cantering towards the title in Arne Slot's first season at Anfield, the race for Champions League places is incredibly tight. Newcastle currently sit in sixth place during the international break, just one point behind fifth-placed Manchester City - but crucially with a game in hand.
Chelsea are only two points ahead, but Howe will be acutely aware of the tight bunch behind them. Slip-ups could be heavily penalised, with just six points separating United in sixth with Brentford in 11th place.
But one factor which could give Newcastle a slight advantage is that all of their rivals for a Champions League spot currently have interest in other competitions. Only Newcastle, Liverpool - who are realistically out of United's range - and Brentford can focus fully on Premier League matters.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa have two-legged European fixtures on the horizon - as do Manchester United and Tottenham further down the table - while the FA Cup is still on the schedule for Forest, Man City, Brighton, Fulham, Villa, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
Some of those teams will of course be knocked out by the team Premier League action resumes with a midweek fixture list in early April, but at the very least it's another 90 minutes United don't have to deal with before they face Brentford at St James' Park on April 2.
Ironically, Newcastle seem to relish a hectic fixture list and often come to fore when the schedule demands two games in a week, but at this stage of the season, when legs start tire and injuries and suspensions bite, this is one advantage they simply must capitalise on.
Top 14 with one eye elsewhere
Liverpool - only Premier League fixtures
Arsenal - Champions League quarter-final vs Real Madrid
Nottingham Forest - FA Cup quarter-final vs Brighton (A)
Chelsea - Europa Conference League quarter-final vs Legia Warsaw
Man City - FA Cup quarter-final vs Bournemouth (A)
Newcastle United - only Premier League fixtures
Brighton - FA Cup quarter-final vs Nottingham Forest (H)
Fulham - FA Cup quarter-final vs Crystal Palace (H)
Aston Villa - FA Cup quarter-final vs Preston (A) & Champions League quarter-final vs PSG
Bournemouth - FA Cup quarter-final vs Man City (H)
Brentford - only Premier League fixtures
Crystal Palace - FA Cup quarter-final vs Fulham (A)
Man United - Europa League quarter-final vs Lyon
Tottenham - Europa League quarter-final vs Eintracht Frankfurt