Liverpool will possible transfer a provisional 16 factors clear atop the Premier League however whereas the English title race seems to be like a procession the battle beneath them for European qualifying locations is coming to the boil, led by Nottingham Forest.
Six factors separate third-placed Forest and Aston Villa in tenth, whereas even the likes of Brentford and Crystal Palace, who’re eleventh and twelfth, haven’t given up hope of taking part in in Europe.
With England’s top-five virtually definitely incomes computerized Champions League qualification subsequent season due to the Premier League’s beneficial UEFA coefficient, the door is extensive open.
Forest haven’t featured in Europe’s elite membership competitors since 1981 however coach Nuno Espirito Santo has remodeled them from relegation battlers into real top-four contenders.
They host fourth-placed reigning champions Manchester Metropolis in Saturday’s early fixture with one level separating the perimeters — a state of affairs past the wildest desires of even essentially the most optimistic Forest fan again in August.
However with Nuno’s group taking just one level — a hard-fought 0-0 draw with second-placed Arsenal — from their final three league video games, some are predicting that Forest, who’ve 48 factors after 27 video games, is not going to maintain their problem.
A house match towards Metropolis gives the proper alternative to avenge their 3-0 defeat on the Etihad in December and silence the doubters.
Fifth-placed Chelsea, on 46 factors, have struggled to maintain their top-four hopes for the reason that again finish of final yr, successful solely three of their final 11 league video games.
A 4-0 house win towards backside membership Southampton final day out steadied the ship and Enzo Maresca’s aspect will search to achieve some momentum as they host his ailing former membership Leicester on Sunday.
Sixth-placed Newcastle United, with 44 factors, have additionally faltered of late however nonetheless have an awesome likelihood of returning to the Champions League.
They go to West Ham United in a London derby on Monday and might want to guarantee they don’t seem to be distracted by a looming League Cup closing towards Liverpool at Wembley on March 16.
Bournemouth, on 43 factors, have been a revelation and it’s no shock that supervisor Andoni Iraola’s title is being linked with a number of the greatest jobs in soccer.
The south-coast membership wasted alternatives to maneuver into the highest 4 with back-to-back defeats towards Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion and will likely be seeking to return to successful methods at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Brighton begin the weekend eighth on 43 factors however are in a wealthy vein of kind with three straight league wins as they put together to host Fulham, who’re one level behind them in ninth.
Finishing the highest half of the desk are Villa.
Unai Emery’s aspect put one foot within the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory at Membership Brugge on Tuesday however have suffered a slide down the desk in current weeks and sit on 42 factors. They face a testing journey to Brentford on Saturday.
As for the title race, Liverpool host seemingly doomed Southampton on Saturday, whereas second-placed Arsenal, 13 factors adrift with a recreation in hand, go to Manchester United on Sunday.
