6 journalists asked who will finish Premier League top five and qualify for Champions League
As the Premier League enters its decisive final stretch, six leading football journalists have weighed in on which clubs will secure coveted Champions League qualification for the 2025/26 season.
With England virtually guaranteed one of UEFA’s two additional spots based on collective European performance, the battle for fifth place has become as intriguing as the title race itself.
The Athletic’s panel of experts revealed near-unanimous agreement on four clubs destined for Europe’s elite competition, while passionately debating the final slot. Current league leaders Liverpool received votes from all six journalists, with their commanding position at the summit making them the safest bet for Champions League football.
Arsenal and surprise package Nottingham Forest also earned perfect six-vote confidence, the latter’s remarkable season continuing to impress analysts.
Manchester City’s pedigree saw them included in every journalist’s prediction despite their relatively modest fourth-place standing. Pep Guardiola’s men benefit from what Mark Carey identified as “the easiest run-in among all Premier League sides,” with no remaining matches against top-seven opposition.
The real controversy emerged around that crucial fifth position. Newcastle United emerged as slight favorites, earning four votes after their Carabao Cup triumph appeared to revitalize Eddie Howe’s squad.
“With the black and white pyro smoke still clinging to their nostril hairs after that special parade,” wrote Caoimhe O’Neill, “Newcastle are going to finish with a flurry of wins.” Carl Anka highlighted their physical midfield trio as a decisive factor, joking that “dribble past Joelinton and he tries to suplex you.”
Brighton and Chelsea each received single votes as potential disruptors. Tim Spiers backed the Seagulls, pointing to their May 4 showdown with Newcastle as potentially decisive, while Oliver Kay reluctantly included Chelsea despite admitting “little enthusiasm for this team and this project.”
The journalists’ collective wisdom suggests:
- Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, and Manchester City are near-certainties (6/6 votes)
- Newcastle United lead the chasing pack (4/6 votes)
- Brighton and Chelsea remain outside contenders (1 vote each)
Key factors influencing predictions include:
- Fixture Difficulty: Manchester City’s favorable schedule contrasts with Chelsea’s tough run-in featuring Liverpool, Newcastle, and Forest
- Momentum: Newcastle’s cup triumph has reinvigorated their campaign
- Head-to-Head Clashes: The Brighton vs Newcastle meeting could determine fifth place
- European Experience: Established clubs like Chelsea may find an extra gear when it matters
As the season reaches its climax, these projections will face their ultimate test. Will Newcastle capitalize on their cup-winning momentum? Can Brighton’s shrewd recruitment overcome more expensively assembled squads?
Might Chelsea’s star power finally click into gear? The answers will unfold across ten dramatic matchdays, with hundreds of millions in Champions League revenue hanging in the balance.
One certainty emerges from the experts’ consensus: the Premier League’s expanded European qualification has transformed the traditional “top four” race into an even more compelling “top five” battle, offering clubs like Newcastle and Brighton unprecedented opportunities to crash the elite party.
The final weeks of the season promise to deliver one of the most unpredictable finishes in recent memory.