Chelsea's remaining 4 fixtures compared to Newcastle and Man City - and final table predicted

Chelsea picked up a big win over the weekend, defeating Everton thanks to Nicolas Jackson finally ending his goal drought. The result saw the Blues move into fifth, but they are just goal difference ahead of Nottingham Forest, who play their game in hand later this week.

In a remarkably tight race, Newcastle United are currently third and just two points ahead of Chelsea and Forest in fifth and sixth, while Aston Villa are three points off Chelsea and Forest. As we enter the final stages of the Champions League race, we have rounded up all the latest in the battle.

Predicted final Premier League table

According to OPTA’s model, Chelsea are still on pace to miss out on the Champions League despite their big win over Everton. The Blues are tipped to finish in sixth place, two points ahead of Aston Villa, on 65 points. The predicted table suggests Maresca’s men will finish three points behind Nottingham Forest in the final Champions League spot, which is fifth.

Manchester City are said to be most likely to finish third, with 69 points, and then Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest are expected to finish on 68 points, with the Magpies in fourth because they are deemed to have more of a chance of reaching that total.

The remaining fixtures

Here are the remaining fixtures for the five teams battling for those all-important three Champions League spots.

Chelsea: Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Man Utd (H), Nottingham Forest (A).

Newcastle United: Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal, (A) Everton (H).

Man City: Wolves (H) Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A).

Nottingham Forest: Brentford (H), Crystal Palace (A), Leicester (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H).

Aston Villa: Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), Man Utd (A).

Maresca’s view

Maresca has said of Chelsea’s Champions League race: "How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero. How many times this season? Almost all season. It is an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.

"We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don't want to see it, you don't see it. It depends which way. I see it."

Speaking after the win over Everton, Maresca said: “We’re going to get better and better because the players are going to understand better and better how to play different games,. Against teams that press higher there is more space we can attack quick. Against teams with a low block it is more difficult, but we need to learn that. For sure this is the reason why I have said many times that the fans have to trust us because this team is getting better and better. It’s a journey, they are going to learn things.

“At this stage of the season the result is the main thing. But for us also the way is important. I think today we won the game but for most of the game it was our team on the ball and off the ball and that is also important for us. For the goal it was easy to attack quick because it was from pressing a goal-kick, so in the moment you recover the ball the first option is always in front and it was a good goal.”

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