As recently as the middle of April, Liverpool were eighth, with a yawning 12-point chasm up to the teams that sat third and fourth in the Premier League table: Newcastle and Manchester United.
Less than a month later, the Reds have closed the gap up to the lucrative Champions League places to just one point. While Liverpool soar, Tottenham have sunk. Spurs trail fourth-placed United by six points with just three games left to play, all but dropping out of the race for the two places behind Manchester City and Arsenal – two teams that are guaranteed to finish first and second, even if the exact order is still to be decided.
Here are the fixtures that await Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool in the race for a spot in the gold-lined top four.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
Arsenal‘s thorny 2-0 victory at St. James’ Park on Sunday ensured that the Gunners would finish above Newcastle this season. Even though Eddie Howe’s side went blow-for-blow with the team that has led the Premier League for most of the season, defeat sowed a doubt of uncertainty in Newcastle’s top-four aspirations.
Half of Newcastle’s remaining matches are against teams desperately scrapping against the drop. First up is a trip to Leeds United‘s Elland Road, the new home former Magpie manager Sam Allardyce. The shared enmity between fanbase and coach will certainly add a bitter undercurrent to a high-stakes encounter.
Dean Smith’s Leicester City are the last visitors of the season to St. James’ Park after Brighton make the 350 mile trip north on Thursday 18 May.
Newcastle travel to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season. Chelsea may have far less to play for than the Magpies by 28 May but they have history on their side – the Blues have not lost at home to Newcastle since Papiss Cisse’s inspired brace in 2012.
|
Date / Kick-off time |
Fixture |
|---|---|
|
13/05/23 – 12:30 |
Leeds vs Newcastle |
|
18/05/23 – 19:30 |
Newcastle vs Brighton |
|
22/05/23 – 20:00 |
Newcastle vs Leicester |
|
28/05/23 – 16:30 |
Chelsea vs Newcastle |
The impact of a 57-game season began to show itself in a sluggish 1-0 loss for Manchester United against relegation-spooked West Ham on Sunday. Much like Newcastle, United have a game in hand on Liverpool and can secure a top-four spot with three more wins.
Erik ten Hag was all too keen to point this out when he stressed: “It’s not about Liverpool, it’s about us and because of the table, we have everything in our hands.”
United’s final four league fixtures – the Red…
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