The race for the final three Champions League spots in the English Premier League will go right to the wire on the final day of the soccer season this Sunday.
The current campaign sees the anomaly of six Premier League clubs qualifying for next year’s edition of the Champions League.
In 2025/26, the top five sides from England will be joined by Europa League winners, Tottenham Hotspur, as they go head to head against the best from across the continent.
With champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal having already secured their place at Europe’s top table for next season, the remaining three spots will be contested on an epic final day in England with Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest vying.
This will be a fight to the finish worth watching.
Here are all the permutations and the odds for each team to secure what they need, with just one point separating four of the five clubs in the Premier League standings.
Of particular significance is the clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at the City Ground, where only a victory will do for either team.
Five teams. Three Champions League spots. @jamesallcott looks ahead to The Final Day in the latest episode of The Breakdown 🧠
➡️ https://t.co/rW0OvVzIdW pic.twitter.com/rkEz1tM1s2
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 23, 2025
Premier League Top Five Odds
Bet365 and SkyBet are offering the following odds for the respective clubs to finish in the Premier League Top 5:
Manchester City – 1/33 bet365 – 1/33 SkyBet
Newcastle United – 1/5 bet365 – 1/7 SkyBet
Chelsea – 4/7 bet365 – 8/11 SkyBet
Aston Villa – 6/5 bet365 – 11/10 SkyBet
Nottingham Forest – 7/2 bet365 – 7/2 SkyBet
Here is what the teams need for a Premier League Top Five spot.
Currently 3rd – Manchester City
Points: 68
Goal difference: +26
Final fixture: Fulham (Away)
One point will be enough on the final day for City, after their midweek victory against Bournemouth.
Their significant goal difference will stand them in good stead for their trp to West London, while another three points will guarantee third place in the table for Pep Guardiola’s men.
However, if City lose, their fate will be out of their hands, requiring results to fall in their favor elsewhere.
Currently 4th – Newcastle United
Points: 66
Goal difference: +22
Final fixture: Everton (Home)
The Magpies go into their final fixture, at home to Everton, knowing they are in control of their destiny, but last week’s loss to Arsenal will send a reminder that they still have work to do.
A win for Eddie Howe’s side will secure Champions League football for the second time in three seasons, and that is what they will be targeting.
A draw or defeat for the North East club means they could be usurped by Aston Villa and potentially, Chelsea or Nottingham Forest.
This is a high-stakes encounter with the vociferous St James’ Park supporters set to rise to the occasion.
Currently 5th – Chelsea
Points: 66
Goal difference: +20
Final fixture: Nottingham Forest (Away)
Chelsea travel to Nottingham knowing a win will be enough for them to grab a Top Five finish and leave Forest floundering.
A draw could be enough for Enzo Maresca’s men, but only if Aston Villa don’t win and Newcastle lose to Everton.
If Chelsea are defeated, Nottingham Forest would go above them, leaving Chelsea requiring Villa to lose at Manchester United, as well as Newcastle losing to Everton by more than three goals.
Enzo Maresca says he has "No doubts" that his Chelsea side can go to the City Ground and beat Nottingham Forest 😤🔵 pic.twitter.com/dUFjtX602k
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 23, 2025
Currently 6th – Aston Villa
Points: 66
Goal difference: +9
Final fixture: Manchester United (Away)
Villa will be confident ahead of their final day fixture.
They go to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United team, decimated by their crushing Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The team and the fans are at a low ebb with the predicament they face next season, with the prospects of an immediate response seeming unlikely. In-form Villa will seek to twist the knife, but they need a favor elsewhere.
Unai Emery’s side needs to get the business done against United and wait for one of Newcastle, Man City, or Chelsea to fail to secure a victory.
7th – Nottingham Forest
Points: 65
Goal difference: +13
Final fixture: Chelsea (Home)
The surprise package of the Premier League season have secured European football for the next campaign, but they will be desperate to make it to the Champions League.
Unfortunately, they need everything to go their way, elsewhere.
Forest have to beat Chelsea, unless Man United triumph over Villa and Everton beat Newcastle by nine goals. That appears to be mission impossible.
A win for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will not be enough on its own. They would still require Newcastle to slip up, or Villa to falter at Old Trafford, to book a Top Five finish in the Premier League table.
Who finishes in the top five in the Premier League!? 🤯
Current odds:
🔵 Man City: 1/8
⚫️ Newcastle: 2/5
🌳 Nottingham Forest: 2/5
🔵 Chelsea: 17/20
🟣 Aston Villa: 2/1Predict who finishes 3rd-7th this season👇
18+ | GambleAware pic.twitter.com/2vu3c0FXJA
— OLBG.com (@OLBG) April 22, 2025
Selected other final day specials in the Premier League Top Five race for the Champions League:
William Hill is offering 16/1 with Bet Builder, plus 25% more with Bet Builder Winnings Boost for Fulham to score first, Raul Jimenez to score + Man City to win.
The same outlet is giving odds of 13/2 with Bet Builder, plus 25% more with Bet Builder Winnings Boost for a draw between Forest and Chelsea, BTTS + Chris Wood to score.
All odds correct at the time of writing.
Image credit: ESPNUK/X
