Six journalists asked who will finish Premier League top five and qualify for Champions League | OneFootball

Who will end the 2024/25 season in the Premier League top five?

Which quintet will qualify for the Champions League?

As this season, it is now ‘virtually impossible’ that the Premier League won’t get one of the two extra CL places, which will be given to the two countries whose clubs do collectively best in European competition the previous (2024/25) season.

Now we are exiting the March international break, The Athletic have asked six journalists a number of key questions as to how this 2024/25 season will eventually end up.

Amongst those questions, the most interesting one is…

‘Which teams will finish in the top five and secure Champions League qualification for next season?’

Before you read what each of the six journalists have to say.

This is how the Premier League table looks on the morning of Tuesday 1 April 2025:

‘As a data analyst, I am obliged to turn to the numbers. Liverpool, Arsenal and Forest look nailed on for a Champions League place, with Opta’s predicted table (established by simulating the remaining matches hundreds of thousands of times) tipping Manchester City and Newcastle United to claim the remaining two spots.

The pair have the most straightforward fixtures remaining among the sides pushing for Europe — on paper, at least. Statistically speaking, Guardiola’s men have the easiest run-in, with Newcastle having the sixth-easiest among all Premier League sides. There might be some twists and turns along the way — but, in order, I am saying Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, City and Newcastle.’

Oliver Kay:

‘Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, Manchester City and… despite having little enthusiasm for this team and this project, I’m going to say Chelsea.’

Caoimhe O’Neill:

‘Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, [Man] City and… Newcastle. This was difficult to decide on but with the black and white pyro smoke still clinging to their nostril hairs after that special parade last weekend, Newcastle are going to finish with a flurry of wins, even with plenty of teams hot on their heels.’

Carl Anka:

‘Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, [Man] City and… Newcastle. A series of managers have used a League Cup triumph to put the battery in the back of their players, and they’ll finish the season strongly. That dogs-of-war midfield trio they have must be an agony to play against. Dribble passed Joelinton and he tries to suplex you.’

Jacob Whitehead:

‘Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, [Man] City, Newcastle. First and second feel done and dusted, while there is no evidence but entrenched dogma and underestimation that Forest will stumble. They feel like the Newcastle of two seasons ago.

Eddie Howe’s current iteration have a tough end to the season — playing at Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion and hosting Chelsea among their final four games — but should reemerge from their Carabao Cup celebrations refocused and remotivated. This is not the Manchester City we are used to but it feels like they are through the worst of it. It would surprise me if Chelsea better their results.’

Tim Spiers:

‘Liverpool, Arsenal, [Man] City, Forest, Brighton. Chelsea’s form since December is really poor and their run-in is tough (Brentford, Fulham, Newcastle and Forest away, plus Liverpool at home), so I can envisage them dropping out. City’s fixtures are much kinder (they play none of the top seven), which leaves Brighton, Newcastle or an outlier from the chasing pack to finish fifth. Brighton and Newcastle play each other on May 4 at the Amex Stadium, which may decide it. I’ll go with the former.’

Taking the six journalists and their five votes each, this is how they collectively see the most likely five Premier League clubs to get Champions League football next season:

6 Liverpool

6 Arsenal

1 Chelsea

So unanimous voting on four clubs to make it into the Champions League.

Then for the fifth and final contender, the six journalists divided, with Eddie Howe’s side getting the backing of four of them, then one each favouring Brighton and Chelsea.