There's a very good chance the race for a Champions League place will go down to the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season going on how tight the table is at present. With Arsenal and Man City looking assured of a berth in Europe's premier competition for next campaign unless they suffer an almighty collapse in the run-in, it does appear that it will be between five clubs to clinch the final two spots.
Manchester United and Tottenham are in third and fourth, respectively, as things stand but it is likely that we could see quite a bit of movement there in the remaining weeks. Spurs are certainly at risk going on their form as well as the fact that they have played more games than their fellow contenders.
So who exactly will come out on top in the race for a Champions League berth? football.london takes a look at the fixtures of Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
READ MORE: Ben Davies set for lengthy injury absence which causes problem for next Tottenham manager
Tottenham
03/04 - Everton (A) 8pm
08/04 - Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 3pm
15/04 - Bournemouth (H) 3pm
23/04 - Newcastle United (A) 2pm
27/04 - Manchester United (H) 8.15pm
30/04 - Liverpool (A) 4.30pm
06/05 - Crystal Palace (H) 3pm
13/05 - Aston Villa (A) 3pm
20/05 - Brentford (H) 3pm
28/05 - Leeds United (A) 4.30pm
Having missed out on some crucial points in the past few weeks after failing to win at the likes at Leicester City, Wolves and Southampton, all Tottenham can do now is concentrate on their final ten games and hope what they do is enough to seal a top-four berth. Their first two matches after the international break will certainly not be easy, with three crunch games coming up at the end of April as they face fellow top-four contenders Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool in the space of a week.
There are certainly some winnable games for Tottenham but they must find some consistency as that has been a major problem over the course of the season.
Manchester United
02/04 - Newcastle United (A) 4.30pm
05/04 - Brentford (H) 8pm
08/04 - Everton (H) 12.30pm
16/04 - Nottingham Forest (A) 4.30pm
27/04 - Tottenham (A) 8.15pm
30/04 - Aston Villa (H) 2pm
06/05 - West Ham (A) 3pm
13/05 - Wolves (H) 3pm
20/05 - Bournemouth (A) 3pm
28/05 - Fulham (H) 4.30pm
TBC - Chelsea (H)
The Red Devils are the favourites to finish the season in third after catching the eye since Erik ten Hag took on the top job last summer. Having 12 Premier League games remaining on the calendar, it is going to be a very hectic schedule for United in the final two months if they go all the way in the FA Cup and Europa League.
That would result in them having to play 19 fixtures in total, which could possibly result in a couple of slip-ups in the Premier League in the process. With a couple of big games against Newcastle and Tottenham coming up in April, the Carabao Cup winners do have a decent run-in with three relegation-threatened teams to play.
Newcastle United
02/04 - Manchester United (H) 4.30pm
05/04 - West Ham (H) 8pm
08/04 - Brentford (A) 3pm
15/04 - Aston Villa (A) 12.30pm
23/04 - Tottenham (H) 2pm
27/04 - Everton (A) 7.45pm
30/04 - Southampton (H) 2pm
06/05 - Arsenal (H) 3pm
13/05 - Leeds United (A) 3pm
20/05 - Leicester City (H) 3pm
28/05 - Chelsea (A) 4.30pm
Going into the international break on the back of two successive victories, Newcastle will be looking to carry on their winning run come the start of April after far too many draws at the beginning of the year. Their two extra games on Spurs could prove vital when it comes to the final top-four position.
Home games against Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal will certainly be tough, with an away day at Chelsea to come in their final game if the race for fourth goes down to the wire.
Liverpool
01/04 - Man City (A) 12.30pm
04/04 - Chelsea (A) 8pm
09/04 - Arsenal (H) 4.30pm
17/04 - Leeds United (A) 8pm
22/04 - Nottingham Forest (H) 3pm
26/04 - West Ham (A) 7.45pm
30/04 - Tottenham (H) 4.30pm
06/05 - Brentford (H) 3pm
13/05 - Leicester City (A) 3pm
20/05 - Aston Villa (H) 3pm
28/05 - Southampton (A) 4.30pm
Liverpool had started to put a good run of form together before they lost at lowly Bournemouth in their last Premier League fixture. Jurgen Klopp's men have a nightmare run of fixtures coming up, with Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal all on the agenda immediately after the international break.
Following those three games, Liverpool will be fairly pleased with their run-in but consistency has troubled them over the course of the campaign and that is why they are down in sixth and seventh points off Tottenham in fourth. That gap could be even bigger if they struggle in those three pivotal games at the start of next month and Spurs and Newcastle gets point on the board.
Brighton & Hove Albion
01/04 - Brentford (H) 3pm
04/04 - Bournemouth (A) 7.45pm
08/04 - Tottenham (A) 3pm
15/04 - Chelsea (A) 3pm
26/04 - Nottingham Forest (H) 7.30pm
29/04 - Wolves (H) 3pm
06/05 - Everton (H) 3pm
13/05 - Arsenal (A) 3pm
20/05 - Southampton (H) 3pm
28/05 - Aston Villa (A) 4.30pm
TBC - Man City (H)
Could the Seagulls cause a major shock and seal the final Champions League place? The south coast club have really impressed this season under Roberto De Zerbi and you certainly wouldn't rule them out of the top-four battle with three games in hand.
Brighton will be confident of registering points at The Amex with some favourable games coming up, but then they will have to be at their very best with the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal still to come away from home. The Seagulls will also have the FA Cup on their mind next month with a semi-final showdown coming up against Manchester United, with the winner taking on Man City or Sheffield United in the final at the beginning of June.
Who will prevail in the top-four race? Predict the winner of the remaining Premier League games and let us know the outcome.
READ NEXT:
Fabio Paratici's big day and the Tottenham difficulty in reappointing Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham could be denied Champions League spot by Man Utd and Chelsea even if they finish fourth
Udogie wows, Spence proves point to Conte, Reguilon nightmare - Tottenham loan player ratings
Daniel Levy's new Tottenham blueprint must follow Mikel Arteta and Edu's ruthless Arsenal call
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gives verdict on Antonio Conte's Tottenham outburst and what he must do
