Premier League top five race in chaos after Villa rout Newcastle and City win | OneFootball

Aston Villa’s crushing win over Newcastle United was not just a big home performance — it was a statement that could shape the rest of the Premier League run-in.

Unai Emery’s side were relentless at Villa Park, turning a tense six-pointer into a second-half procession. The 4-1 win did not just lift them above Chelsea into sixth — it dragged Newcastle back into the chasing pack and threw the top-five race into chaos.

The Premier League’s allocation of five Champions League spots this season has always had the potential to cause late-season drama. Now it has delivered.

From Newcastle in third to Aston Villa in sixth, just two points separate four teams. Chelsea, with a game in hand, can join the 57-point club with a win at Fulham.

Newcastle looked well set before today. But this was a bruising reality check. Their midfield was outrun, their defence overrun, and the depth of Emery’s squad shone through as his substitutes scored two and created another. The mood at full-time was jubilation for Villa, confusion for the Magpies.

Manchester City, meanwhile, left it late to find their gear at Goodison Park. But once they did, the 2-0 win over Everton carried familiar weight. A dull draw looked likely until Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic stepped off the bench and turned it around.

City have now moved above Nottingham Forest into fourth, and with home games to come, they know a top-five finish is now firmly in their control.

For Forest, the equation has changed. What once looked like a surprise Champions League adventure is now a fragile fifth spot, only theirs on goal difference. Tottenham Hotspur host them on Monday, and anything less than a win could see them drop to seventh.

Then there is Chelsea. Maresca’s team are unpredictable, wasteful and out of form away from home. But they remain in seventh and could be level with Forest if they beat Fulham on Sunday. Their failure to beat Ipswich last weekend felt like a missed chance. They cannot afford another.

This is a scrap with no breathing space. Momentum has swung from Forest to Villa, and from Newcastle to City. Chelsea might be next. With five matchdays left, the final Champions League ticket is still very much up for grabs.