Will three Premier League clubs will qualify for the Champions League on this final day of the season?
Will Newcastle United end the 2024/25 season in the Premier League top five?
Will Eddie Howe’s side be one of the trio that today qualifies for the Champions League?
Now we are heading into the final day of the season, The Athletic have asked five of their journalists to make predictions on Newcastle United and the other contenders.
The three of the five clubs that will be playing Champions League football next season due to where they finish in the Premier League this campaign.
With of course two to miss out.
A reminder of how the Premier League table looks on Sunday morning ahead of the final round of games:
Premier League Table 21 May 2025
So this is what each of the five journalists from The Athletic have predicted will happen today in the matches and where the five clubs will finish between third and seventh, plus selected comments from their reasoning:
Nick Miller:
‘Man City should make short work of Fulham, Newcastle face an Everton side whose season was over long ago and you would imagine Aston Villa will take advantage of Manchester United’s Europa League hangover.’
Predicted results:
Wins for Man City, Newcastle, Villa and Forest.
Final table
71 Man City
69 Newcastle United
69 Villa
68 Forest
66 Chelsea
Stuart James:
‘Everton, in fairness, are capable of making it uncomfortable for Newcastle but I’d still expect Eddie Howe’s side, buoyed by the atmosphere inside St James’ Park, to get over the line.’
Predicted results:
Wins for Newcastle and Villa, draws for Man City and Forest v Chelsea.
Final table
69 Man City
69 Newcastle United
69 Villa
67 Chelsea
66 Forest
Tim Spiers:
‘No sane person would predict Manchester United being capable of producing an adequate afternoon of football, so Villa should be fine, and it feels like Fulham are ideal opponents for Man City, so we’re probably looking at obdurate Everton potentially causing Newcastle some problems.
If Alexander Isak is absent, then Newcastle may struggle to break down the side with the joint-fourth-best defensive record in the league.’
Predicted results:
Wins for Man City, Villa and Forest, a draw for Newcastle.
Final table
71 Man City
69 Villa
68 Forest
67 Newcastle United
66 Chelsea
Thom Harris:
‘Newcastle’s recent home form — they’ve won their last four games at St James’ Park by an aggregate score of 14-1 — surely sees them dispatch Everton.’
Predicted results:
Wins for Newcastle, Villa and Forest, a draw for Man City.
Final table
69 Man City
69 Newcastle United
69 Villa
68 Forest
66 Chelsea
Caoimhe O’Neill:
Predicted results:
Wins for Newcastle, Villa and Chelsea, a draw for Man City.
Final table
69 Man City
69 Newcastle United
69 Chelsea
69 Villa
65 Forest
Conclusion:
So four of the five journalist predicting a win for Newcastle United today and ending the season fourth in the Premier League, plus of course the small matter of a Champions League place. The dissenting one of the five predicting only a draw for NUFC and sixth in the final table.