Only three games remain of the Premier League season, but the race for the top four is still wide open, with six teams still in contention.
Six points separate second place and seventh, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa still fighting for a top-four finish.
Here are five key matches that could decide the top four:
Matchday 36 – Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
It looked like Aston Villa’s top-four hopes were gone following their 2-1 loss to Man City last month, with Matheus Nunes scoring in the 94th minute to sink Villa’s hopes.
However, the Villans‘ 1-0 win against Fulham last weekend proved to be a vital three points after both Newcastle and Forest dropped points.
Unai Emery’s side now sits three points behind fourth-placed Newcastle with three games remaining.
To keep their top four hopes alive, Villa must beat Bournemouth on the South Coast, something they’ve only done once in four attempts.
Villa’s last win at the Vitality Stadium came in 2015 with Rudy Gestede scoring the only goal of the game.
The Cherries themselves only sit seven points behind seventh-placed Villa, and a win could close the gap to four points with two games remaining.
Matchday 36 – Newcastle United vs. Chelsea
Newcastle face Chelsea at St James Park on Sunday in a game with huge top-four implications.
The two sides currently sit fourth and fifth in the Premier League table, with nothing to separate them. Both sit on 63 points with a +21-goal difference.
Chelsea is also still competing in Europe. The Blues hold a 4-1 first-leg advantage against Djurgarden in the UEFA Conference League semi-final.
Chelsea is hitting form at the right time, with only Man City, Aston Villa, and Wolverhampton Wanderers picking up more points than the Blues over their last five games.
Newcastle has suffered disappointing results of late, losing 4-1 to fellow top-four hopefuls Aston Villa.
The Geordies also dropped points at Brighton last week; top scorer Aleksander Isak rescued a point for the Magpies with an 89-minute penalty.
Matchday 36 – Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Liverpool sealed the title on April 27, with a 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, but the Reds can still play a big part in the race for the top four.
Arne Slot’s side takes on Arsenal on Sunday, with the Gunners yet to secure a top-four spot.
Arsenal have been Liverpool’s closest rivals to the title all season, but after a poor run of form and a defeat to Bournemouth last time out they now face a fight to hold onto second.
Mikel Arteta’s side sits only three points ahead of third-placed Man City, and a defeat to Liverpool on Sunday could see the pressure mount on the Gunners from the chasing pack.
If results elsewhere go against Arsenal this weekend, they could find themselves only four points ahead of seventh with six points still up for grabs.
Matchday 37 – Arsenal vs. Newcastle
Following a tough match against the already crowned champions, Arsenal then face Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on May 18.
Eddie Howe has got the better of Mikel Arteta five times in the nine meetings that the two sides have met since Howe took charge of the Magpies.
However, Newcastle haven’t beaten Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League since 2010, with Andy Carroll scoring the only goal of the game.
The Gunners have won 11 of the 13 Premier League games between the two sides at the Emirates.
Matchday 38 – Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea
Nottingham Forest takes on Chelsea at the City Ground on the final day of the season, which could be a winner-takes-all for a top-four spot.
Forest were sat comfortably in the top four for the majority of the season, becoming the 2024/25 surprise package.
However, one win in their last five league games now sees them on the outside looking in.
Nuno Espirito Santo has his side in sixth place, two points behind Newcastle and Chelsea.
But before a final day showdown, Forest must stay in contention by beating already relegated Leicester City and West Ham United.
Chelsea take on Manchester United on either side of their six-pointers against Newcastle and Forest.