· 23 May 2025, 12:00
**A win for Newcastle United against Everton on Sunday will guarantee a spot in next season's Champions League for the Magpies.**
Eddie Howe's side can still qualify for the competition if they drop points against the Toffees, but they'd be reliant on other results going their way, so it's obviously far better to get the job done themselves by taking all three points from David Moyes' men.
At least one of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest is going to drop points as the two sides play each other on the final day.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have a guaranteed three points as they are playing Manchester United, so we certainly can't rely on a slip-up there.
Eddie Howe says his team know what is expected of them on Sunday
----------------------------------------------------------------
Eddie Howe has spoken about the final game this morning when speaking to the media (via [The Chronicle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/eddie-howe-newcastle-united-live-31704286)), and he's clear that his team know what is expected.
> "_Training has been lively this week. The lads have been in good spirits. I think they're looking forward to the challenge we face on Sunday and what should be a great atmosphere, a great occasion. Hopefully, the consistency in performance that we have had for a long time continues. Certainly, I know that the desire to do well is there, and hopefully, we can put it all together._ "I don't think we can ask for any more at this moment. Then, of course, you have to do the difficult part and take the opportunity. It's by no means a given. Everton are in good form, they are difficult to beat. They have not conceded a lot of goals, so we know the challenge is a big one. They've got threats in their team as well, so we're going to need to be focused and concentrate on what we need to do to win the game. Hopefully, then, the crowd can carry us through.
>
> "I don't think we can look for any favours from anybody. We have to do our bit, and that's going to be the only thing on our minds. There will be no talk of other results or other teams. What will be will be in that respect. Afterwards, we will see and reflect, but for us, we know what we have to do."
Everton will not be pushovers on Sunday by any stretch of the imagination
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newcastle have often been terrible when things have been in their own hands, but we can hope that the Cup Final win in March has banished that hoodoo.
We struggled to a 0-0 draw with Everton on their own turf earlier this season, and that was when they were awful. They have been rejuvenated under David Moyes, so Sunday is far from a foregone conclusion.
Whatever happens, though, we have to remember that this has been an amazing season!