Chelsea's remaining fixture compared to Newcastle United, Aston Villa and others after fresh twists

We are now down to the final round of Premier League fixtures aside from the two mid-week games involving FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace and Manchester City. The race for the top five and Champions League football has been the most exciting part of the Premier League for some time, and the race will indeed go to the very end.

Going into the final week, Newcastle United remain in the driving seat - albeit perhaps only until Tuesday - despite losing to Arsenal on Sunday. The Magpies are currently third, two goals ahead of Chelsea, who are 11 goals ahead of Aston Villa. Manchester City are in sixth, one point behind all three teams, and if they win their game in hand on Tuesday night, they will go up into third and all-but secure a top five finish due to their strong finish. Below City, Nottingham Forest are in seventh, also on 65 points but with a worse goal difference.

Here we round up the remaining fixtures and more.

The remaining fixtures

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

Chelsea: Nottingham Forest (A).

Newcastle United: Everton (H).

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

Nottingham Forest: Chelsea (H).

Aston Villa: Man Utd (A).

Enzo Maresca’s view

Speaking after Chelsea’s win over Man Utd, Enzo Maresca said: “We've said many times that talent alone is not enough,' the Chelsea head coach reflected. 'You also need to add the effort. The effort tonight was unbelievable from all of the players. We are happy tonight. For me, the club, and the fans, it was an important win. The way I celebrated [at the end of the game] is because we had two games to go and it’s important to win the game.

“I said today to the players, United beat City at home, drew with them at home, drew with Liverpool, drew with Arsenal, they know how to play big games. So it was very difficult to win the game tonight. The focus has been on us because we knew that winning both games means we finish well. We won tonight, now it’s not about pressure or anyone else. It’s about us again. We need to be focused, prepare the game in the best way, and try to win the last game.”

What Pep Guardiola has said

Speaking after City’s draw with Southampton, which came before their FA Cup final defeat, Guardiola said: “The result, of course, it’s a missed opportunity today, we know that. They defend so deep – in the first half, after 15 or 20 minutes, I realised we need the strikers especially to break them because we didn’t expect them to be so defensive. We couldn’t get the rhythm. The second half was better and in the last 30 minutes we had a lot of chances, but it’s always difficult against a team that plays that way.

“Today we missed the crosses, the second ball, one player in the 18-yard box to dribble and shoot. Second balls and set pieces - this kind of stuff we miss a little and unfortunately, we could not get the goal we needed. We could not convert. [Southampton] can do whatever they want. For many years here we faced teams with different approaches and a team that’s been relegated to play in that way. It’s our duty to break them, that’s what we have to do. Many times they play five or six at the back.

“It’s difficult - you have to break it with transitions and creativity, free-kicks, reactions. We had the chances when you review it, but we couldn’t score. It happened. Now, prepare the final, and less time Bournemouth and then Fulham. We have three games left - the FA Cup and two games in the Premier League and I didn’t expect anything different from one month ago in that that we will need to fight until the end.”

What Eddie Howe has said

Speaking after Newcastle’s defeat to Arsenal, Howe told BBC Sport: "We came under pressure at the start of the second half and you need to ride that storm and we had. Declan Rice produces that spectacular finish from that range. We did everything we could to get a goal. From our perspective, we got too passive and became a little bit sloppy on the ball. We'll learn from that. You do have times like that away from home.

"We have to take all the positives from that first half performance. We looked strong. Nick [Pope] didn't have too much to do. He's [Alexander Isak] got a bit of swelling in a muscle in his groin. He's only got seven days to get himself fit. Fingers crossed he can get there. It's obviously great for everyone to watch and we have to do our job against Everton."

What Nuno Espirito Santo has said

Speaking after Forest’s win over West Ham, Santo dedicated his side’s win to Taiwo Awoniyi, who required surgery this week. "Since the beginning of our preparations 'T' [Taiwo Awoniyi] was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation, and the boys really wanted to do it for him,” he told Sky Sports. “That was our final words, 'let's give it a push'. He is someone we admire, his smile is contagious and the boys did it for him. We are so proud.

"Huge [win]. I think since the beginning of the season we wanted to be in this fight, we achieved it, the last game at the City Ground will be huge for us and we are trying to make something magical."

What Unai Emery has said

Speaking after his side’s win over Tottenham on Friday night, Emery said: “I’m very grateful for the supporters. Here, we are feeling strong and we’re feeling comfortable. We only lost one match here in the Premier League, the first match against Arsenal. Progressively we were getting better. Of course, we drew some matches in the way and now we are missing some points from those moments, but we have to accept it.

“We have to accept the 37 matches we’ve played being consistent, more or less, and getting the moment we are in now, feeling good and in our best moment. We’re achieving the challenges we are facing. We enjoyed in the FA Cup and in Carabao Cup, but mostly our moment in the Champions League. The Premier League is the most important competition we are facing because through it we are getting again our main objective, and the objective is to be in Europe. We are in Europe next year but we are in the running for the Champions League positions, and we can have chances in the last match in Manchester to get it.”

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