Premier League rivals chasing Champions League places – Next 5 fixtures level of difficulty | OneFootball

The race is hotting up for those Premier League clubs chasing the Champions League places.

Less than seven weeks of the season to go.

The final round of Premier League fixtures to be played on Sunday 25 May, including Newcastle v Everton.

All other Premier League clubs having only the seven games remaining, apart from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, who have an extra match, that outstanding postponed fixture to be played at St James’ Park on Wednesday 16 April.

Sky Sports have been doing some analysis.

Looking at who each of the Premier League clubs are playing in their next five PL fixtures.

Asking the question – Who has the toughest next five opponents?

Sky Sports have based this report on the average league position of the next five upcoming opponents for each club – 9 April 2025:

As you can see, Newcastle United amongst those clubs who are deemed to have the easier next five match schedule, an average league position of 11.6 for the next five NUFC opponents.

Down below is the up to date Premier League table and then I have done some analysis on the teams currently 2nd to 10th in the table who are competing for the Champions League places. Their next five fixtures, each of their opponents’ current league placing, plus maybe crucially, whether these upcoming matches are home or away:

Arsenal currently 2nd on 62 points (average league position of next five opponents – 10.4)

Brentford (H) 12th, Ipswich (A) 18th, Palace (H) 11th, Bournemouth (H) 10th, Liverpool (A) 1st

Forest currently 3rd on 57 points (average league position of next five opponents – 14.2)

Everton (H) 15th, Spurs (A) 14th, Brentford (H) 12th, Palace (A) 11th, Leicester (H) 19th

Chelsea currently 4th on 53 points (average league position of next five opponents – 9.4)

Ipswich (H) 18th, Fulham (A) 8th, Everton (H) 15th, Liverpool (H) 1st, Newcastle (A) 5th

Newcastle United currently 5th on 53 points (average league position of next five opponents – 11.6)

Man U (H) 13th, Palace (H) 11th, Villa (A) 7th, Ipswich (H) 18th, Brighton (A) 9th

Man City currently 6th on 52 points (average league position of next five opponents – 14.0)

Palace (H) 11th, Everton (A) 15th, Villa (H) 7th, Wolves (H) 18th, Southampton (A) 20th

Villa currently 7th on 51 points (average league position of next five opponents – 9.8)

Southampton (A) 20th, Newcastle (H) 5th, Man City (A) 6th, Fulham (H) 8th, Bournemouth (A) 10th

Fulham currently 8th on 48 points (average league position of next five opponents – 11.2)

Bournemouth (A) 10th, Chelsea (H) 4th, Southampton (A) 20th, Villa (A) 7th, Everton (H) 15th

Brighton currently 9th on 47 points (average league position of next five opponents – 13.8)

Leicester (H) 19th, Brentford (A) 12th, West Ham (H) 16th, Newcastle (H) 5th, Wolves (A) 17th