Manchester City has surged into third place in the Premier League after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.
This victory has added another three points to their tally, keeping their Champions League hopes alive as the season heads into its final stretch.
With just a ten-point gap separating teams from third to seventh place, the race for those coveted spots is heating up.
The Champions League Battle Is Far From Over
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the fight for the final Champions League spot is far from settled, particularly after Nottingham Forest’s crushing defeat to Brentford.
Carragher predicts that the last qualifying position will be fiercely contested between Aston Villa and Chelsea, while Manchester City and Newcastle United are expected to finish comfortably ahead of Arsenal, who are still in the Champions League race.
Carragher pointed out that Arsenal’s tough fixtures, including games against Bournemouth, Liverpool at Anfield, and a key match against Newcastle, could see them drop points in the final stretch.
“It’s a brilliant race,” he said on Sky Sports.
“Newcastle and Manchester City can definitely catch Arsenal, especially with their schedule.”
Villa Faces Challenging Run to Secure Their Spot
As for Aston Villa, the pressure is on to perform in their next few matches.
They’re sitting just ten points behind City, but with a game in hand, every match counts.
Villa, coming off a disappointing loss at the Etihad and an FA Cup exit, now faces some of the toughest fixtures remaining in the season.
Carragher pointed out that Villa’s final opponents—Tottenham and Manchester United—are also battling in the Europa League, which could provide some interesting twists in the race.
“If Villa can secure wins in the next couple of games, they’ll still have a shot.
But it’s going to be a tight finish,” Carragher added.
Chelsea’s Tough Road Ahead
For Chelsea, the task of reaching the top five looks challenging, with several high-stakes matches still to come.
The Blues will face newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle—teams that are all fighting for their own place in European competitions.
With these tough fixtures, Carragher believes Chelsea may struggle to keep pace with the top contenders.
“Looking at their remaining matches, Chelsea will find it tough to push into the Champions League spots,” he remarked.
What’s Next for Villa?
Aston Villa will have a crucial opportunity to keep their hopes alive when they face Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday.
The match will be a key moment in their quest to push for a late Champions League qualification spot, with their fate likely to be decided by their performance in the final few games.
