The end of the Premier League season is nigh. With the international break upon us, all 20 teams have one final pit stop before entering the final stretch of what has been a less-than-dramatic campaign.
Ordinarily, at this time of year, we would be gearing up for the crux of an enthralling title race, or placing our predictions on who could go down in a tense tussle at the bottom. Well, that’s not the case this year.
Liverpool have all but wrapped up the title, despite a nosedive in form over the past week, as they hold a seemingly unassailable 12-point lead over Arsenal. Even the most optimistic of Gunners have little faith they can catch the Reds.
Meanwhile, the bottom three is close to being set in stone. The trio that came up, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton are all sleepwalking toward the drop with nearest rivals Wolves nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Reading those first few paragraphs will hardly have got you pumped up to tune into the action over the next two months, but fear not, it’s not all bad. The race for Champions League football is more chaotic than ever with up top eight teams still battling to make it into Europe’s premier competition next season.
The majority of sides, bar two, have just nine games left to achieve their goals. This season really has flown by, hasn’t it? So with so little time left to go, we at Mail Sport are taking a look at each team’s final run-in, in order of the hardest to the easiest.
Liverpool are 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just nine games left to play
Nottingham Forest and Chelsea are leading the hotly-contested race for Champions League football
1. Fulham – difficulty rating: 91.8
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – Arsenal (a)
April 6 – Liverpool (h)
April 14 – Bournemouth (a)
April 20 – Chelsea (h)
April 26 – Southampton (a)
May 3 – Aston Villa (a)
May 10 – Everton (h)
May 18 – Brentford (a)
May 25 – Manchester City (h)
If I were a Fulham fan, I wouldn’t get my hopes up too much about Champions League qualification. With their most likely being five teams that qualify for the competition, the Cottagers do stand a chance on paper. But boy, they have some incredibly difficult fixtures to end the season – the joint-hardest, in fact.
Fulham have both of the top two in their next two matches as they travel to Arsenal before hosting Liverpool. Following that, they face the likes of Chelsea, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Everton, and Manchester City. Hardly easy fixtures. If they want European football at Craven Cottage, they are going toi have to do it the hard way.
2. Crystal Palace – difficulty rating: 91.8
Final 10 fixtures
April 2 – Southampton (a)
April 5 – Brighton (h)
April 12 – Manchester City (a)
April 16 – Newcastle (a)
April 19 – Bournemouth (h)
April 26 – Arsenal (a)
May 3 – Nottingham Forest (h)
May 10 – Tottenham (a)
May 18 – Wolves (h)
May 25 – Liverpool (a)
Anything Fulham can do, Crystal Palace can do… the same. That doesn’t sound quite right, does it? The Eagles are the only other team to match the Cottagers in terms of fixture difficulty, and they are one of the two teams to have an extra game thrown into the mix.
Oliver Glasner’s side face six of the top seven in their final ten matches, so no wonder the difficulty rating is so high. Four of those are on the road as well, as they face City, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Liverpool all away from home. At least, they will have front row seats for the more than likely trophy lift at Anfield on the final day.
Crystal Palace finish with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, where they won last season
3. Everton – difficulty rating: 91.5
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Liverpool (a)
April 5 – Arsenal (h)
April 12 – Nottingham Forest (a)
April 19 – Manchester City (h)
April 26 – Chelsea (a)
May 3 – Ipswich (h)
May 10 – Fulham (a)
May 18 – Southampton (h)
May 25 – Newcastle (a)
Everton’s final run-in may be daunting, but with the way they have been playing, I’m pretty sure there will be no fear in that Toffees team.
David Moyes’ side start off their final run-in with a trip to Anfield for the Merseyside derby. We all know what happened the last time they faced off, it was utter carnage. With Liverpool a wounded animal, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to predict Everton getting something there, even if it’s just a point.
And while they still have to face Arsenal and Manchester City, they are both at home. With their only four games left at Goodison Park before they move to their new stadium, it will be tough for any team to go there and get points, no matter how good they are.
So, while Everton are high on this list, Moyes and Co will surely feel confident they can pick up a lot of points before their final farewell to Goodison against Southampton.
Everton have just four games left at Goodison Park and will try and use them to great effect
4. Manchester United – difficulty rating: 91.0
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – Nottingham Forest (a)
April 6 – Manchester City (h)
April 13 – Newcastle (a)
April 20 – Wolves (h)
April 27 – Bournemouth (a)
May 3 – Brentford (a)
May 10 – West Ham (h)
May 18 – Chelsea (a)
May 25 – Aston Villa (h)
Considering the season Manchester United have had, I’m sure it doesn’t fill fans with much joy seeing them this high up on the list. The Red Devils could be in for a tough end to the season.
The majority of the 91.0 rating will be based on their next three games. My word, they are tricky. First, Ruben Amorim’s side travel to Nottingham Forest before it’s time for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. There is no rest for the wicked, though, as they go on a trip to the north east to face Newcastle thereafter.
Away days at Bournemouth and Chelsea don’t look too appetising, although there are home games against Wolves and West Ham that are certainly winnable. Although going on United’s home form, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Manchester United will look to do the double over Manchester City when they play on April 6
5. Brentford- difficulty rating: 90.8
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Newcastle (a)
April 6 – Chelsea (h)
April 12 – Arsenal (a)
April 19 – Brighton (h)
April 26 – Nottingham Forest (a)
May 3 – Manchester United (h)
May 10 – Ipswich (a)
May 18 – Fulham (h)
May 25 – Wolves (a)
While the Champions League may be out of reach for Brentford, the prospect of Europe is most certainly not. A recent upturn in form has left Thomas Frank’s side right in the mix.
However, they are going to have to dodge a lot of bullets if they want to make history. Tough trips to Newcastle, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest, who are all in the battle for Europe, could easily derail the Bees’ season.
Brentford also have to face Brighton – who are in a similar position – and Manchester United at home, although the prospect of facing United does not provide the same difficulty rating as years gone by.
Brentford face a tough trip to Newcastle (pictured in the Carabao Cup fixture) as well as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest
6. Chelsea – difficulty rating: 90.5
Final nine fixtures
April 3 – Tottenham (h)
April 6 – Brentford (a)
April 13 – Ipswich (h)
April 20 – Fulham (a)
April 26 – Everton (a)
May 3 – Liverpool (h)
May 10 – Newcastle (a)
May 18 – Manchester United (h)
May 25 – Nottingham Forest (a)
At the start of the season, Chelsea’s goal was clear: qualify for the Champions League. Even when it looked like the Blues were in a title race – a lifetime ago – Enzo Maresca was managing expectations and just wanted to focus on getting into Europe’s top tier.
Their rancid record in 2025 has really threatened that goal as they now sit sixth in the table, which may not be enough for qualification. And looking at their final run-in, I’d say their hopes have already taken another hit.
Yes, I know, how can hopes take a hit when the games haven’t been played? Well, the fact that Maresca’s side have to play Liverpool, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest is how.
They do also have to host both Tottenham and Manchester United, which in the past may have been tough in the past but are not so much these days. Sorry for all the heat Red Devils, but it’s true.
Chelsea start their final push to make the Champions League against rivals Tottenham
7. Southampton – difficulty rating: 90.5
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Crystal Palace (h)
April 6 – Tottenham (a)
April 12 – Aston Villa (h)
April 19 – West Ham (a)
April 26 – Fulham (h)
May 3 – Leicester (a)
May 10 – Manchester City (h)
May 18 – Everton (a)
May 25 – Arsenal (h)
Oh, Southampton. The difficulty rating for them feels irrelevant because they have already proved that every match is an uphill battle.
The Saints are just nine games away from creating Premier League history, but not in a good way. They are still two points shy of Derby’s record-low of 11, with just nine games to go.
Going by the fixtures they have left, and the fact that they lose every week, I could easily see them becoming the worst side the division has ever seen in a 38-game season. They will be the final team to ever visit Goodison Park, while they also have to take on Manchester City and Arsenal.
Southampton still sit on nine points and are two off of Derby’s Premier League record-low
8. Aston Villa – difficulty rating: 90.3
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Brighton (a)
April 5 – Nottingham Forest (h)
April 12 – Southampton (a)
April 19 – Newcastle (h)
April 28 – Manchester City (a)
May 3 – Fulham (h)
May 10 – Bournemouth (a)
May 18 – Tottenham (h)
May 25 – Manchester United (a)
Aston Villa have had the time of their lives in the Champions League this season. I’m not sure anybody could have predicted that they would reach the quarter-final, I certainly didn’t.
Their campaign in Europe could not have gone much better, they are living the dream. If they want fantasy to bleed into next season, though, they need a strong finish in the Premier League.
Unai Emery’s side currently sit ninth, a little off where they need to be. Howeverm they are only four points of fourth-place Chelsea and have a decent, but not easy, run of fixtures.
While they do have to travel to fellow European challengers Manchester City, Brighton and Bournemouth, other rivals such as Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have to feel the wrath of Villa Park. They also still have a favourable game to come against the doomed Saints.
Aston Villa’s home games against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle could be crucial as they seek Champions League football again
9. Tottenham – difficulty rating: 90.3
Final nine fixtures
April 3 – Chelsea (a)
April 6 – Southampton (h)
April 13 – Wolves (a)
April 21 – Nottingham Forest (h)
April 27 – Liverpool (a)
May 3 – West Ham (a)
May 10 – Crystal Palace (h)
May 18 – Aston Villa (a)
May 25 – Brighton (h)
Tottenham are another team where I’m not sure the difficulty rating really applies. They are the Robin Hood of the Premier League, they take off of the rich and give to the poor. They have done a lot of giving this season, hence why they are 14th.
On paper, you would say the hardest fixtures for Spurs are away at both Chelsea and Liverpool – they rarely win at either – and their trip to Aston Villa. However, they also have to face both Nottingham Forest and Brighton, which whilst are at home are also pretty tough.
The games you can see them picking up points in are at home to Southampton and away at Wolves, although I wouldn’t hold my breath with the latter of those. You just never know what you are going to get with Ange Postecoglou’s men, so it’s almost pointless predicting.
Tottenham face the prospect of their lowest Premier League finish since the 2003-04 season
10. Liverpool – difficulty rating: 90.2
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Everton (h)
April 6 – Fulham (a)
April 13 – West Ham (h)
April 20 – Leicester (a)
April 27 – Tottenham (h)
May 3 – Chelsea (a)
May 10 – Arsenal (h)
May 18 – Brighton (a)
May 25 – Crystal Palace (h)
Liverpool’s road to the Premier League title, which they already have one big hand on, seems neither hard nor easy. The fact they only need 16 points from their last nine games, however, renders it close to irrelevant.
Yes, the Reds’ damaging losses to PSG in the Champions League and Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final may have left them bruised, but it’s still hard to see them collapsing from here.
There is a scenario where Liverpool could be crowned champions ahead of their home match with Arsenal, if things go their way, meaning the Gunners would have to form a guard of honour at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side finish off the season at home to Crystal Palace, which is when they would likely lift the trophy if they do win it.
Liverpool’s toughest remaining game is against Arsenal in their penultimate home match
Arne Slot looks likely to win the Premier League in his first season in charge on Merseyside
11. Leicester – difficulty rating: 90.1
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Manchester City (a)
April 7 – Newcastle (h)
April 12 – Brighton (a)
April 20 – Liverpool (h)
April 26 – Wolves (a)
May 3 – Southampton (h)
May 10 – Nottingham Forest (a)
May 18 – Ipswich (h)
May 25 – Bournemouth (a)
What is there to say about Leicester that hasn’t already been said? Just like Southampton, it doesn’t really matter who they are facing because they just seem to keep losing. Whether it’s Liverpool or Ipswich, zero points seem inevitable.
Now that might sound harsh, but it’s not. The Foxes have lost 13 of their last 14 Premier League games and are almost a certainty for the drop.
They also still have to face the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton, and Arne Slot’s Reds. So yeah, they are cooked. You never know, though, they could beat the Saints in their showdown.
Leicester have lost 13 of their last 14 Premier League games and things won’t get any easier
12. Brighton- difficulty rating: 90.1
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Aston Villa (h)
April 5 – Crystal Palace (a)
April 12 – Leicester (h)
April 19 – Brentford (a)
April 26 – West Ham (h)
May 3 – Newcastle (h)
May 10 – Wolves (a)
May 18 – Liverpool (h)
May 25 – Tottenham (a)
If I supported the Seagulls, I wouldn’t be quite licking my lips at the sight of this fixture list, but I’d certainly be buzzing. Brighton do have some huge games against close rivals, but they seem to be avoiding a lot of so-called big teams.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side are soaring at the moment and sit seventh, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Their biggest games left all come at home, which is great for them, as they face fellow top-five hopefuls Newcastle and Aston Villa at the Amex. Win both of them and that would surely send them on their way.
Brighton’s hardest game is their last on the south coast before the summer as they take on leaders Liverpool. However, they do have a strong home record against the Reds in recent years, winning three of their last four meetings in all competitions.
Brighton’s most difficult game left in the campaign is against Liverpool, but it is at home
13. Bournemouth – difficulty rating: 89.8
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Ipswich (h)
April 5 – West Ham (a)
April 14 – Fulham (h)
April 19 – Crystal Palace (a)
April 27 – Manchester United (h)
May 3 – Arsenal (a)
May 10 – Aston Villa (h)
May 18 – Manchester City (a)
May 25 – Leicester (h)
Personally, I think this difficulty rating is misleading (sorry Opta). Bournemouth are so far down on this list yet they seem to have a tougher run in than many others, or is it just me who feels that way?
The Cherries still have to travel to both Arsenal and Manchester City, while facing Aston Villa at home. Now, those are not easy fixtures, I am telling you.
The fact they host Ipswich and Leicester may be a factor for the lower rating as that’s almost six points right there, unless something crazy happens.
Nevertheless, if Andoni Iraola’s side miss out on Champions League football, it’s not because of the difficulty of away games they have remaining, but because of their recent form. They have taken just one point from a possible 12.
Even an easier run-in for Bournemouth will not lift spirits after what has been a bad run of form
14. Ipswich – difficulty rating: 89.8
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Ipswich (a)
April 5 – Wolves (h)
April 13 – Chelsea (a)
April 20 – Arsenal (h)
April 26 – Newcastle (a)
May 3 – Everton (a)
May 10 – Brentford (h)
May 18 – Leicester (a)
May 25 – West Ham (h)
Again, this difficulty rating doesn’t feel high enough. With where Ipswich are, and the form that they are in, this is not a kind run of fixtures.
Kieran McKenna’s side are facing four, maybe even five if you count Brentford, sides that are gunning for the European spots.
Trips to Chelsea, Newcastle, and Everton, especially, will be a tough slog, while they still have Arsenal to come to Portman Road. It’s hard to see Ipswich going out with a bang.
Ipswich’s last game is at home to West Ham, and it could easily be their last in the Premier League for some time
15. Newcastle – difficulty rating: 89.7
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Final 10 fixtures
April 2 – Brentford (h)
April 7 – Leicester (a)
April 13 – Manchester United (h)
April 16 – Crystal Palace (h)
April 19 – Aston Villa (a)
April 26 – Ipswich (h)
May 3 – Brighton (a)
May 10 – Chelsea (h)
May 18 – Arsenal (a)
May 25 – Everton (h)
Now it’s time to turn to your freshly-crowned Carabao Cup champions, Newcastle. They will be riding a wave of confidence all the way to the finish line, and luckily for them, there is an international break they can use to sober up from all that partying.
Looking at the Magpies fixture list, you feel they have to be one of the favourites to reach the Champions League. There are only three games that I can see causing them problems.
Visiting Arsenal away in their final 10 will be tricky, but they have already beten them at the Emirates this season en route to lifting silverware at the weekend. The other two troublesome matches will be away at Aston Villa and Brighton, who are also in the hunt for the top-five spots.
That Chelsea game could also be big, but the Geordies usually dispatch of the Blues at St James’ Park, in recent seasons anyway. Also, they have Leicester and Ipswich in the run-in, which should also help.
Newcastle will be riding a wave of confidence after lifting their first trophy in 56 years
The Magpies still have to face Arsenal away but they did beat them at the Emirates en route to Carabao Cup glory
16. Arsenal – difficulty rating: 89.4
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – Fulham (h)
April 5 – Everton (a)
April 12 – Brentford (h)
April 20 – Ipswich (a)
April 26 – Crystal Palace (h)
May 3 – Bournemouth (h)
May 10 – Liverpool (a)
May 18 – Newcastle (h)
May 25 – Southampton (a)
If Arsenal weren’t so far behind Liverpool, maybe they would have fancied their chances with this run-in. It seems like the Gunners have already played most of their tough games.
Their hardest match left is obviously at Anfield, where they have not won for 13 years. Yes, you have read that right. It would have been nice for that to be a title showdown, but unless Liverpool’s form falls off a cliff, it won’t be.
You’d expect Mikel Arteta and Co to cruise past the likes of Southampton, Ipswich and Brentford, although that trip to Goodison Park may not be all that fun. I have said why numerous times, so will not repeat myself.
They do, of course, host Newcastle in their penultimate game. While they were beaten by them in the Carabao Cup, the Gunners had previously won 12 of their last 13 home games against the Geordies.
Arsenal’s run-in will not be as dramatic as usual as they are seemingly out of the title race
17. West Ham – difficulty rating: 89.2
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – Wolves (a)
April 5 – Bournemouth (h)
April 13 – Liverpool (a)
April 19 – Southampton (h)
April 26 – Brighton (a)
May 3 – Tottenham (h)
May 10 – Manchester United (a)
May 18 – Nottingham Forest (h)
May 25 – Ipswich (a)
Erm, is this right? I take a look at West Ham’s fixtures and think ‘they’re quite tough’, but Opta don’t seem to agree. I guess meetings with Tottenham and Manchester United aren’t what they once were, but they also won’t be a walk in the park for the inconsistent Hammers.
West Ham are obviously safe and now they will just want to push for mid-table. But with games against Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest to come, that goal could be a stretch too far. The latter three of those clubs might not have used to strike fear into teams, but they certainly do now.
Graham Potter will be looking to end the season on a high with a supposedly easy run-in
18. Nottingham Forest – difficulty rating: 89.1
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – Manchester United (h)
April 5 – Aston Villa (a)
April 12 – Everton (h)
April 21 – Tottenham (a)
April 26 – Brentford (h)
May 3 – Crystal Palace (a)
May 10 – Leicester (h)
May 18 – West Ham (a)
May 25 – Chelsea (h)
Can Nottingham Forest get their fairytale ending? For months I told myself they would tail off, but here they are still sitting pretty in third and five points clear of fourth. Oh, and they have the third-easiest run-in… now that’s helpful.
If you looked at this run of fixtures for Forest in previous seasons, you would have seen it as tough. Not these days, they don’t fear anybody. If anything, United, Spurs, and Chelsea will be worried about them.
Get through there next three games against the Red Devils, Aston Villa, and Everton unscathed, then it will be hard to see them not qualifying for the Champions League. That’s no easy task, but it’s entirely possible.
The miracle is so close to happening, they can already hear the famous music.
Nottingham Forest fans will jump for joy when they see their remaining fixtures as their team looks to qualify for Europe
19. Wolves – difficulty rating: 88.7
Final nine fixtures
April 1 – West Ham (h)
April 5 – Ipswich (a)
April 13 – Tottenham (h)
April 20 – Manchester United (a)
April 26 – Leicester (h)
May 3 – Manchester City (a)
May 10 – Brighton (h)
May 18 – Crystal Palace (a)
May 25 – Brentford (h)
Wolves are in what is known as no man’s land. Yes, they might be 17th, but seeing as they are nine points clear of the drop, it is almost certain they will stay up, especially given the form of the three teams below them.
So, with that being said, they are practically on the beach – it’s unlikely they will climb the table either. The two games in there that they should definitely get up for are against Leicester and Ipswich. Win those, and they can really relax. Other points will just be a bonus.
Wolves are all but safe from teh drop and just now need to try and see out the campaign
20. Manchester City – difficulty rating: 87.8
Final nine fixtures
April 2 – Leicester (h)
April 6 – Manchester United (a)
April 12 – Crystal Palace (h)
April 19 – Everton (a)
April 28 – Aston Villa (h)
May 3 – Wolves (h)
May 10 – Southampton (a)
May 18 – Bournemouth (h)
May 25 – Fulham (a)
Manchester City finish what has been a dismal season by their standards away at Fulham
Opta has ranked the difficult of each Premier League teams run-in, and Mail Sport take a look
Last, and technically least, Manchester City. The champions have the easiest run-in of the lot after what has been their toughest season in nearly a decade. Their demise has been spectacular, to say the least.
Pep Guardiola’s side have three big games left, in my opinion. Obviously, there is the Manchester derby, that needs no explanation. I mean, there is the adage that they will want to enact revenge after losing the reverse fixture at the Etihad.
A trip to Everton and the visit of Aston Villa will also prove tricky, but other than that you’d expect them to finish strongly. Saying that, they are not the City of old so games agaisnt Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Fulham could trip them up. Still, you’d expect them to qualify for the Champions League with this run-in.
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