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Premier League Top Four Race: Standings and Next Five Games After Matchweek 31
For most teams, there's just seven games remaining in the Premier League campaign. The title looks to be returning to Anfield and Arsenal look good for second, but the race for the Champions League placings is heating up.
Nottingham Forest (third) and Manchester City (fifth) are favorites for Champions League qualification. Chasing them are Newcastle United (with games in hand), Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton. Fulham got a big win over Liverpool this week while Bournemouth might be falling out of the race. It certainly looks like the battle will come down to the final days of the season given how tight the points are between fourth-place Chelsea and Brighton down in ninth.
Here's a look at the next five fixtures for the teams battling for top four in England's top flight league after matchweek 31.
Premier League Standings
Place | Team | Points | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Liverpool | 73 | 31 |
2. | Arsenal | 62 | 31 |
3. | Nottingham Forest | 57 | 31 |
4. | Chelsea | 53 | 31 |
5. | Manchester City | 52 | 31 |
6. | Aston Villa | 51 | 31 |
7. | Newcastle United | 50 | 29 |
8. | Fulham | 48 | 31 |
9. | Brighton | 48 | 31 |
10. | Bournemouth | 45 | 31 |
Here's the next five league games for the teams in the Premier League top-four race.
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Nottingham Forest's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 12: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Everton (H) |
Mon, Apr. 21: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Tottenham Hotspur (A) |
Mon, May 5: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (A) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (H) |
Sun, May 18: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | West Ham United (A) |
Forest missed an opportunity this week to put some space between them and the trailing pack after losing to Aston Villa. They'll look to bounce back against an Everton side that played both Liverpool and Arsenal close recently.
Chelsea's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sun, Apr. 13: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Ipswich Town (H) |
Sun, Apr. 20: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Fulham (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Everton (H) |
Sun, May 4: 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. GMT | Liverpool (H) |
Sat, May 10: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Newcastle United (A) |
Chelsea's draw to Brentford could prove costly in the Blues' push for a Champions League spot. Enzo Maresca must string together a result of wins even with difficult competition in their next five games.
Manchester City's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 12: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Everton (A) |
Fri, May 2: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Wolves (H) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Southampton (A) |
Sun, May. 18: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Bournemouth (H) |
A draw to Manchester United in the derby prevented Pep Guardiola's team from ending the week in the top four. They look to bounce back against Crystal Palace back at home next weekend.
Aston Villa's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 12: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Southampton (A) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Newcastle United (H) |
Sat, May 3: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Fulham (H) |
Sat, May 10: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Bournemouth (A) |
Sun, May 18: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Tottenham Hotspur (H) |
Villa boosted their chances with a nervy win over fellow Midlanders Forest, with Unai Emery resting some players ahead of their huge Champions League quarterfinal with PSG on Wednesday.
Newcastle United's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Mon, Apr. 7: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (A) |
Sun, Apr. 13: 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. GMT | Manchester United (H) |
Wed, Apr. 16: 2:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Ipswich Town (H) |
Newcastle United close out matchweek 31 on Monday against Leicester City. The Magpies are favored to defeat the Foxes, which would take them level with Chelsea in fourth on 53 points, but with crucial game in hand.
Forest, Chelsea and Man City all dropping points this weekend was very favourable for Newcastle and Eddie Howe's men will be hoping to leapfrog those teams ahead of them.
Fulham's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Mon, Apr. 14: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Bournemouth (A) |
Sun, Apr. 20: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Chelsea (H) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Southampton (A) |
Sat, May 3: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (A) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Everton (H) |
Fulham are back in the mix after inflicting only the second defeat to runaway leaders Liverpool.
Brighton's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Brighton's hope of qualifying is starting to diminish after a chaotic loss to Crystal Palace.
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 12: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Brentford (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | West Ham United (H) |
Sun, May 4: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Newcastle United (A) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Wolves (A) |
Bournemouth's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Mon, Apr. 14: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Fulham (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (A) |
Sun, Apr. 27: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Manchester United (H) |
Sat, May 3: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Arsenal (A) |
Sat, May 10: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (H) |
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Max Mallow is an editor for Sports Illustrated FC. Somehow, he has just enough time every matchday to tweet when an Arsenal player scores a goal.