Race for the Champions League: How Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea can make top four

ByBen Snowball

Updated 07/05/2018 at 14:55 GMT

The Premier League’s race for the top four comes down to the final week, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea scrapping over two guaranteed tickets into next season’s Champions League. Who will occupy the dreaded fifth place come Sunday evening?

CURRENT STANDINGS

REMAINING FIXTURES

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Wednesday May 9

• Chelsea v Huddersfield (19:45)
• Tottenham v Newcastle (20:00)

Sunday May 13

• Liverpool v Brighton (15:00)
• Newcastle v Chelsea (15:00)
• Tottenham v Leicester (15:00)

SCENARIOS

Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp’s side have two routes into next season’s Champions League: a) beat Brighton on the final day (assuming Chelsea don’t overturn a 15-goal deficit in their remaining two games), and b) beat Real Madrid in the CL final on May 26. If the Reds draw or lose against the Seagulls, they will need assistance from their rivals to make the top four.

Tottenham: Spurs’ fate is also in their own hands, but they need to beat woefully-out-of-form duo Newcastle and Leicester at Wembley to be 100% assured of a spot in the Champions League. However, a win and a draw should be enough, providing Chelsea fail to overturn a nine-goal difference in their final two fixtures.

Chelsea: Even victories over Huddersfield and Newcastle may not be enough for Chelsea. But they only need one slip-up from Liverpool or Spurs – a draw from Liverpool, or a loss for Spurs – to sneak into the top four. Failing that, two 8-0 wins should see them finish ahead of Klopp’s men on goal difference. Easy.

COULD ALL THREE TEAMS QUALIFY?

Yes. If Liverpool finish fifth and then beat Real Madrid in the Champions League final, all three sides will feature next season.

HANG ON, I HEARD SPURS/CHELSEA COULD FINISH FOURTH AND STILL MISS OUT?

That was correct… while Arsenal were in the Europa League.

If Liverpool won the Champions League AND Arsenal won the Europa League AND both clubs finished outside the top four, then fourth place would have relinquished their spot in Europe’s premier competition. This now can’t happen.

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