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Premier League Top Four Race: Standings and Next Five Games After Matchweek 30
It's been a two-horse race for most of the Premier League season for the title between Liverpool and Arsenal. No matter how it ends, most expect the two sides to occupy the top two spots in the table. Then, the excitement begins.
The Premier League top four race is heating up with Nottingham Forest and Manchester City pushing for Champions League qualification. On their heels are Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton. Even Fulham and Bournemouth will feel like they have a chance given how well they've performed this season.
Here's a detailed look at the next five fixtures for the teams battling for top four in England's top flight league after matchweek 30.
Premier League Standings
Place | Team | Points | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Liverpool | 73 | 30 |
2. | Arsenal | 61 | 30 |
3. | Nottingham Forest | 57 | 30 |
4. | Chelsea | 52 | 30 |
5. | Manchester City | 51 | 30 |
6. | Newcastle United | 50 | 29 |
7. | Aston Villa | 48 | 30 |
8. | Brighton | 47 | 30 |
9. | Fulham | 45 | 30 |
10. | Bournemouth | 44 | 30 |
Here's the next five league games for the teams in the Premier League top four race.
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Nottingham Forest's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 5: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (A) |
Sat, Apr. 12: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Everton (H) |
Mon, Apr. 21: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Tottenham Hotspur (A) |
Mon, May 5: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (A) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (H) |
Forest are six points clear of Manchester City in third place and trail Arsenal by four points. They still have a gap to navigate potential dropped points along the way, but they'll feel like they can get over the line in the end.
Manchester City's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sun, Apr. 6: 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. GMT | Manchester United (A) |
Sat, Apr. 12: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Everton (A) |
Fri, May 2: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Wolves (H) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Southampton (A) |
The FA Cup and finishing top four is all that's left for Man City to aim for. Even after losing Erling Haaland for most of the rest of the season, Pep Guardiola's side should have enough to at the very minimum challenge for the fourth and final spot.
Newcastle United's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Mon, Apr. 7: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (A) |
Sun, Apr. 13: 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. GMT | Manchester United (H) |
Wed, Apr. 16: 2:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Ipswich Town (H) |
Newcastle United's Carabao Cup win could be the extra boost in motivation to finish in the top four once again under Eddie Howe. With Alexander Isak leading the line, don't underestimate this team.
Chelsea's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sun, Apr. 6: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Brentford (A) |
Sun, Apr. 13: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Ipswich Town (H) |
Sun, Apr. 20: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Fulham (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Everton (H) |
Sun, May 4: 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. GMT | Liverpool (H) |
Chelsea still have to play Tottenham Hotspur this week, a game in which they should be favored to win. Though, anything can happen in a London derby. Dropped points this week won't take Chelsea out of the race, but they must string together results if they want to get back to the Champions League.
Brighton's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 5: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (A) |
Sat, Apr. 12: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Leicester City (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Brentford (A) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | West Ham United (H) |
Sun, May 4: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Newcastle United (A) |
Aston Villa's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 5: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Nottingham Forest (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Newcastle United (H) |
Sat, May 3: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Fulham (H) |
Sat, May 10: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Bournemouth (A) |
Sun, May 18: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Tottenham Hotspur (H) |
Aston Villa face a tough road ahead, not just in opponents but also the sheer number of games. Unai Emery's team plays in the Champions League quarterfinals against PSG and the FA Cup semifinals against Crystal Palace this month. If they go farther in the Champions League, they'll have a semifinal leg to play at the end of the month which could lead to more rescheduling.
Fulham's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sun, Apr. 6: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Liverpool (H) |
Mon, Apr. 14: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Bournemouth (A) |
Sun, Apr. 20: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Chelsea (H) |
Sat, Apr. 26: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Southampton (A) |
Sat, May 3: 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. GMT | Aston Villa (A) |
Bournemouth's Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Date and Kick-Off Time | Opponent |
|---|---|
Sat, Apr. 5: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | West Ham United (A) |
Mon, Apr. 14: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT | Fulham (H) |
Sat, Apr. 19: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT | Crystal Palace (A) |
Sun, Apr. 27: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. GMT | Manchester United (H) |
Sat, May 3: 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. GMT | Arsenal (A) |
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Max Mallow is an editor for Sports Illustrated Soccer. Somehow, he has just enough time every matchday to tweet when an Arsenal player scores a goal.