LAGOS, Nigeria — Five teams dey battle for three Champions League spots for di final day of di Premier League season as Newcastle boss Eddie Howe talk say e “get di feeling e go reach di end”.
Arsenal secure di first slot with a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday, join defending champions Liverpool in di Champions League for di next season. Now, Newcastle dey among three teams wey get 66 points, alongside Chelsea and Aston Villa, while Manchester City and Nottingham Forest dey 65 points.
Di league go allow five English teams qualify for Champions League, thanks to di superb performance of Premier League clubs in Europe dis season. Manchester City, currently sixth, still get one game in hand, dey play against Bournemouth on Tuesday, so dem fit shape their own fate. Newcastle know say a win against Everton dis Sunday at 16:00 BST for home go make dem secure their spot.
Chelsea too sabi say dem need win to secure their qualification too. Dem go face Nottingham Forest, who don beat West Ham 2-1 on Sunday, ensuring dey also get hope alive. Forest go need to beat Chelsea and wait for at least one of di teams above dem to slip up. Aston Villa, on di other hand, must win against Manchester United and hope say favour fit come from other matches.
Na di winners of di Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham go still qualify for next season Champions League, which mean six English teams go dey for di competition next season. However, it no go affect di league fixtures.
Statisticians from Opta give Manchester City di best chance of qualifying, with 85.9% probability, while Newcastle dey behind with 83.5%, and Chelsea follow with 56.8%. Villa dey get 44.4%, and Forest down to 29.3%.
Les Ferdinand, former Newcastle striker, talk say, “For di last game of di season at home, you fit expect say Newcastle go fit beat Everton because Everton no get anything to play for.” He continue say, “I dey believe Manchester City go make am, dem sabi perform well when dem need am. Dem don get their ups and downs dis season, but dem fit turn up when e matter.”
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp add, “I still dey believe say City go do am but e no go easy. Aston Villa get di easiest fixture because dem dey face Manchester United away, but dem still no dey in good form.”
As it stand, di remaining fixtures dey: Newcastle vs. Everton, Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa vs. Manchester United, Manchester City vs. Bournemouth and Fulham.
Di top six teams go secure Europe spots, as Crystal Palace don qualify by winning di FA Cup and going to di Europa League. Newcastle, as di Carabao Cup winners, don secured at least a place for di Conference League. If dem finish top six, di 7th position go qualify for di Conference League instead.
Dey also dey chance say di team wey finish 8th fit qualify for di Conference League if Chelsea win di Conference League final against Real Betis. If Chelsea finish seventh and win, dem go enter Europa League.
In summary, dis season’s final day go be one to watch as all di teams dey fight with everything for European qualification. Fans dey expect big drama as di denouement of di Premier League season unfold.
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