After a huge win against Manchester United at St James’ Park, we’ve moved one step closer to potentially securing Champions League football for next season.

It’s been a bumper week of results in the Premier League, a number of which have dealt tremendous damage to some team’s hope of European football, whilst strengthening our own.

Here’s what’s left to unfold as we approach the final few games of the season…

Seven cup finals to go

After 31 games, we’ve so far accumulated 56 points, breaking into the top four of the table once again.

Our upcoming fixtures include big games against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal, coupled with potential hurdles against Crystal Palace, Brighton Everton, with the welcome reprieve of a home against Ipswich in the midst of it all too.

66 points has been enough to secure fifth place in each of the last five seasons, meaning we’re potentially just nine points away from returning to the Champions League. Expected wins against Ipswich, Chelsea and Everton all at home could be all that we need.

Who do our top five rivals face?

A little luck elsewhere

This past weekend saw each of Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea drop points to bottom half sides and deal a big blow to each side’s own ambitions of Europe.

Nottingham Forest, having spent much of the campaign in the top four, are only a mere point ahead of us now, with any positive result against Crystal Palace on Wednesday seeing us overtake them and go into third place.

Chelsea meanwhile, even if they’re firm favourites to win the Conference League and earn Europa League qualification that way, are in serious danger of plummeting out of the European spots (and the financial benefits that can bring) having not won an away game in the Premier League in 2025 – a positive omen ahead of our game against the Blues on 10th of May.

Who to look out for

The looming threat of Manchester City and Aston Villa cannot be understated, however, especially as both are enjoying some positive results as of late.

Pep Guardiola’s side looked back to their brilliant best in their 5-2 win over Crystal Palace, and we’ve done a good job with our win over Manchester United to prevent any further gap in the goal difference opening up.

Our game away to Aston Villa on Saturday is huge for both sides: with Unai Emery’s men having one eye on their own cup efforts, we could potentially capitalise on a pending Champions League exit against PSG and position ourselves to finish well above them in the table with a win at Villa Park.