Home of football statistics and historyThe 2025/26 English Premier League season has reached the business end and there are still numerous issues to be resolved before the end of the campaign.
Arsenal look to be a good bet with bookmakers to win the title as they hold a nine-point lead over Manchester City. The two clubs look nailed on to secure Champions League qualification.
For fans who enjoy adding extra excitement to the action, many choose to explore online gambling options through winspirit3.com, where the platform’s extensive selection of slots and immersive live dealer games makes it a popular destination for casino entertainment.
The continued rise of online casinos and digital betting platforms has also changed how supporters engage with major sporting events, giving fans the chance to follow the action while enjoying a wide range of gaming experiences.
Who will join the top two English sides in UEFA’s top club competition is less clear. England could be handed an additional place next term, which opens the door for the fifth-placed team to sneak in.
Four clubs are currently vying for a top-five finish – Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea. Just six points separate them with eight games remaining.
The race will garner plenty of attention worldwide. That will undoubtedly be the case in Africa, where the Premier League has a massive fanbase.
African players such as Bryan Mbeumo (Man United) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) will likely have a big say in which teams finish in the top five.
With that in mind, read on as we look at the remaining fixtures for the aforementioned quartet, before assessing their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Manchester United (54 points)
- Bournemouth (A)
- Leeds United (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Brentford (H)
- Liverpool (H)
- Sunderland (A)
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Aston Villa (51 points)
- West Ham United (H)
- Nottingham Forest (A)
- Sunderland (H)
- Fulham (A)
- Tottenham Hotspur (H)
- Burnley (A)
- Liverpool (H)
- Manchester City (A)
Liverpool (49 points)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
- Fulham (H)
- Everton (A)
- Crystal Palace (H)
- Manchester United (A)
- Chelsea (H)
- Aston Villa (A)
- Brentford (H)
Chelsea (48 points)
- Everton (A)
- Manchester City (H)
- Manchester United (H)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- Liverpool (A)
- Tottenham Hotspur (H)
- Sunderland (A)
Man United are in pole position
A run of seven victories in nine games under interim manager Michael Carrick has fired Man United up to third in the Premier League.
The sportsbooks rate the Red Devils as the favourites to claim one of the coveted Champions League qualification spots.
Their remaining games are relatively favourable, with the home fixture against Liverpool in early May the toughest test they face on the run-in.
United have established a healthy six-point lead over Chelsea with eight games left. If they avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge on April 18, they should finish in the top five.
Villa’s season is unravelling
Having briefly threatened to muscle their way into the title race, Villa’s form has dropped off a cliff in recent weeks. They are still in the top four, but only just.
Injuries to key players have not helped their cause, while competing in the Europa League has stretched their squad to the limit.
However, Villa’s next six fixtures all look winnable, albeit on paper. If they can find some semblance of form over the next few weeks, finishing in the top five is still possible.
Their final two fixtures against Liverpool (H) and Man City (A) add a greater degree of difficulty to the task, but Villa may ultimately get the job done.
Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea could be pivotal
Many people believe Liverpool’s Premier League title success last season was aided in no small part by the deficiencies of their main rivals.
Despite spending a fortune on new players last summer, the Reds have done little to dispel the notion that they were lucky to claim their second Premier League crown.
Arne Slot’s side have been hugely inconsistent this season. While they are currently in the top five, it would be a brave move to wager on them staying there.
Their home clash against Chelsea on May 9 will likely be the pivotal fixture in determining which one of these underachieving teams finishes in the top five.
Chelsea could still salvage something from a poor season
Chelsea have become one of the Premier League’s biggest ‘banter clubs’ this season, yet could still salvage something from the wreckage by qualifying for the Champions League.
The decision to appoint Liam Rosenior as manager looked misguided when it was initially announced, and he already looks way out of his depth in the top flight.
However, the composition of their remaining fixtures could work in their favour. They are still to face both Manchester clubs, but those games will be played at Stamford Bridge.
If the Blues can take something from their visit to Liverpool, the rest of their fixtures should yield enough points to secure Champions League qualification.
0 Comments