There will undoubtedly be plenty more twists and turns between now and the end of the season when it comes to the top-four race. As things stand, Arsenal and Man City look certainties to finish in the top four and that leaves the final two positions very much up for grabs with a place in the 2023/24 Champions League on offer.
Newcastle United and Manchester United are in third and fourth respectively but that could all change in the weeks ahead. Cristian Stellini's Tottenham, who have spent the vast majority of the campaign in the top four, are three points behind in fifth, with Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool making up the top eight.
If Tottenham are to play in Europe's premier competition for the second consecutive year, consistency is going to be key in the run-in. Having slipped up away at Southampton and Everton recently after conceding last-minute equalisers against the struggling sides, Tottenham cannot afford for history to repeat itself or it could prove very costly in terms of the final table.
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As the Lilywhites have played one game more than Newcastle and Manchester United, their two rivals could really hand Stellini and his players an uphill battle in their remaining fixtures providing that they win their games in hand. So who exactly do they come against?
Newcastle's game in hand is against high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion after the original fixture that was pencilled in for the end of February was postponed due to the Magpies playing in the Carabao Cup final that weekend. A new date for the encounter has yet to be confirmed at present, with the same going for Brighton's home match against Man City that was due to be played on the weekend of the FA Cup semi-finals.
While Newcastle are still waiting for a date for their extra game to be played, Manchester United know when they will be playing theirs after confirmation from the Premier League arrived at the end of last month. The Red Devils will now travel to the Amex to face Brighton on Thursday, May 4, with the 8pm game due to be televised on Sky Sports.
Manchester United's home clash against Chelsea, which was originally in the diary for Saturday, April 22, also needs to be slotted into the calendar as it has had to be moved to due to the Red Devils' participation in the FA Cup semi-finals. United's run to the latter stages of the Europa League does make things tricky in terms of deciding on a new date as they face a rather jam-packed schedule in the remaining weeks of the season if they go all the way in Europe.
Newcastle and Manchester United may be the current favourites to join Arsenal and Man City in next season's Champions League but there are no guarantees they will achieve maximum points from their games in hand. Tottenham will be hoping that their rivals slip up along the way and that they duly go on and take full advantage and seal another top-four finish.
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