Enzo Maresca of Chelsea, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe and Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo
Enzo Maresca of Chelsea, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe and Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo
Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final and the celebrations that followed can now be put to one side as focus turns to securing a Champions League finish to crown off a season for the ages.
As it stands, the Magpies sit sixth in the Premier League, a one point behind Manchester City in fifth and two adrift of Chelsea in fourth. Behind Newcastle sit the likes of Brighton, Fulham, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Brentford.
Newcastle have 10 crucial top flight clashes remaining, six of which are at St James' Park. The four away fixtures see Eddie Howe's side travel to Leicester City, Aston Villa, Brighton and Arsenal before the end of the campaign.
We therefore asked our Chronicle Live team to predict the remaining fixtures of the season to determine whether Newcastle make it into the Champions League.
It's going to go right down to the wire this year with the extra Champions League spot adding more spice to an already fiercely contested race. But I think Newcastle will get over the line and comfortably too.
The key will obviously be success in the home matches starting with Brentford but I'd tip Eddie Howe to lead Newcastle to a few more wins with Everton and Man United not close to the level United are at now. The tricky fixtures are inevitably the clashes at the Emirates Stadium and the Amex Stadium before the season is done and dusted.
Looking at that Chelsea match at home that could well be a significant day on the fixture list for Newcastle. The Blues are capable of beating anybody on their day, but also losing to anybody too, just as they did at Ipswich!
The fact Chelsea face Liverpool and, interestingly, Forest on the final day will make for a good viewing, but I really can see Newcastle finishing strong. I don't think they will win every game but we might even see a surprise climb up to fourth or even third based on my predictions in the remaining games! I also think Chelsea's European commitments might play a part in the last few rounds of the season.
Let's hope I am right!
Ciaran Kelly
I actually think Newcastle United have a great chance to build on the momentum of the cup win and it was not so long ago that this side showed they were capable of going on a run once they got a head of steam. The next four games - all against teams currently in the bottom half - feel like the chance to do just that.
A strong return from those matches would put Newcastle in a great position with six games to go and so many members of this side have priceless experience of getting over the line and qualifying for the Champions League, which will be invaluable in the run-in.
While there will inevitably be some twists and turns, right up until the final day, I've predicted that Newcastle will edge Chelsea out for that final fifth spot.
Ciaran's predicted table
Aaron Stokes
For starters, I have Newcastle beating Brentford at home this week, keeping them in touch with the top five as the penultimate month of Premier League action gets under way. To add, I also went with Howe's men beating Leicester City on the road, along with Ipswich Town, Manchester United and Chelsea at home in the coming weeks.
In terms of dropping points, I took the black and white tinted spectacles off with Newcastle picking up draws with Brighton and Crystal Palace - at the Amex Stadium and St James' Park respectively. In terms of defeats, I factored in possible losses against Aston Villa and Arsenal away from home, while accounting for a possible surprise result at home between now and the end of term, and therefore included a defeat to Everton.
That prediction would see Newcastle pick up 17 points from their remaining 30 and, according to my picks of the club's closest rivals, would be enough to secure fifth spot with 64 points. For context, Tottenham landed that particular finish last season with 66 points to their name.
Ross Gregory
It's so tight, isn't it? Currently, only five points separate Chelsea in fourth and Bournemouth in 10th. I can't see much changing, and it will be fine margins all the way through the run-in.
I've got Newcastle finishing on 66 points which was enough for Spurs to clinch fifth spot last season. The trouble is, I've also predicted dark horses Brighton and Aston Villa to end on the same tally! Could it go down to goal difference?
I predicted Eddie Howe's men losing at Arsenal, Villa and Brighton. Those are three big games that could prove crucial - but then again, they all could. And what needs remembering is that Villa also have cup matches to potentially distract them. For Newcastle, it just depends on how much of a Carabao Cup hangover/distraction they have.
Stuart Jamieson
If it only it was this easy. I've tried to be as realistic as possible, and have Newcastle cantering to fifth place . . . five points ahead of Chelsea. That's with losing at Brighton, Arsenal and Villa too. It does mean United have to win their home games, including against Enzo Maresca's side, but they should be confident of doing that after winning in the Carabao Cup against the Blues earlier this season.
It's hard to envisage United overtaking Man City given their relatively easy fixture list, but Chelsea's challenging run-in could be their undoing, with Liverpool, Forest, Man United, Brentford, Spurs, Fulham and Newcastle to face.
Predicted final table
Stuart Jamieson's predicted final Premier League table
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