Peter Crouch and Joe Cole have issued their verdicts on the Premier League’s top-five race, with most sides set to play another seven games this season.
Chelsea sit in fourth on 53 points, and there is just a six-point gap between the Blues and Brighton in ninth.
This season, the Premier League are one of two leagues in Europe rewarded with an extra place in the 2025-26 Champions League – the news being confirmed after Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the mid-week.
Thus, the usual top-four race has turned into a top-five race this season. The main teams in contention for Champions League football are: Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham and Brighton.
Liverpool and Arsenal’s inclusion in next season’s competition is almost a formality, given their strong league positions.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brentford have slim but mathematical chances of earning a spot, but are nobody’s favourites.
Peter Crouch and Joe Cole gave their verdicts on the Premier League’s nail-biting top-five race
Crouch chose Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Man City to finish third, fourth and fifth
Cole agreed Newcastle would make it in but admitted he is worried about Chelsea’s chances
Ahead of City’s clash with Palace on Saturday, Crouch and Cole weighed in on what the top five might look like come May.
Crouch said: ‘I think Forest get third. I think Newcastle get fourth, in my opinion, and I think City might just squeeze in there.
Cole concurred that Newcastle are likely to qualify for the Champions League, arguing that they are the strongest of any of the contenders, following their EFL Cup success over Liverpool last month.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder said: ‘I think Newcastle do [get in], I think they look the strongest, to be honest.’
However, Cole revealed that he is worried about his former club, despite Enzo Maresca’s side sitting in fourth place.
He added: ‘Newcastle have got a good run in. I’m worried for my team, Chelsea, I really am.
‘There’s been points dropped at home and I really want the club to get into the Champions League, but they’ve still got to play Newcastle, Manchester United, these big, historic games in the Premier League. It’s really tough.
Two extra Champions League places are awarded to countries based on their UEFA coefficient ranking.
Chelsea currently sit fourth and have been in a strong position for most of the season
City are at risk of missing out on the Champions League for the first time under Pep Guardiola
Last season, Borussia Dortmund and Bologna were the fortunate recipients after Germany and Italy saw off competition from Engand, France and Spain.
Incredibly, England could have as many as seven teams in the Champions League next season, although several permutations are required in this scenario.
Villa would need to win the competition this campaign but miss out on qualification through the Premier League, while either United or Tottenham, both quarter-finalists, would need to lift the Europa League trophy.
This is because the winners of the Europa League and the Champions League are automatically guaranteed a seat at the top table for the following season.
Previous rules stipulated that any single league could only have a maximum of five clubs in the Champions League. However, that regulation has now been scrapped.
