While everyone’s attention is understandably focused on the Premier League title race, another intriguing battle is unfolding slightly lower on the table.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are all but guaranteed a Champions League spot, with Aston Villa and Tottenham currently vying for what should be the fourth and final berth.
That leaves four teams – Newcastle, Manchester United, West Ham and Chelsea – battling out for the remaining two European spots over the final month of the season.
However, due to the expansion of the Champions League, the Premier League could receive an additional spot in European football’s elite competition.
That would mean the teams finishing sixth and seventh on the table will go in the Europa League, with the team coming eight taking part in the Europa Conference League next season.
Here, Mail Sport examines the run-in for the remaining European spots.
Manchester United are without a win at home in the Premier League over the last two months
Your browser does not support iframes.
Newcastle – P32, 50 points
After a difficult winter, spring has breathed a new lease of life into Newcastle’s season.
Despite their ongoing injury crisis, the Magpies have won three of their last four Premier League fixtures and are sixth in the table, with a Europa League spot firmly in their grasp.
Eddie Howe’s men are in control of their destiny, but face a potentially difficult run-in with four of their remaining six games away from home beginning with a trip to Selhurst Park a week tomorrow.
After hosting bottom-dwellers Sheffield United, Newcastle also travel to Turf Moor with Burnley mired in a relegation battle, but Brentford should be safe by the time the Magpies visit the Gtech Community Stadium on the final day of the season.
A trip to Old Trafford in what could effectively be a Europa League decider against Manchester United comes just four days after Newcastle welcome Brighton, who are still chasing a European spot themselves.
Newcastle have returned to form at the right time and have won three of their last four games
Manchester United – P32, 50 points
Could United’s dismal season descend into an even bigger nightmare over the next four weeks? On current form, there is every chance it might.
United could find themselves in the Europa Conference League quagmire next season or even miss out on European football altogether.
The latter scenario may provide INEOS with a clean slate in their first season in charge of football operations at Old Trafford but would almost certainly spell the end for Erik ten Hag.
United have won just once in their last five Premier League fixtures and haven’t won away in the Premier League since beating Luton at Kenilworth Road in February.
A chronic lack of form is exacerbated by an injury crisis that defies any logic and has left the Dutchman’s cupboard devoid of any option.
Erik ten Hag’s men could have to settle for seventh place in the Premier League this season
There is little solace to be found in the fixtures list either. Home games against Sheffield United and Burnley this month should in theory deliver maximum returns, but a trip to Selhurst Park on the early May Bank Holiday could prove trickier.
United could well have a say in the title race when Arsenal arrive at Old Trafford on May 12, while fixtures against fellow European hopefuls Newcastle and Brighton in the following seven days look far from easy.
Ten Hag’s men, of course, could secure a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup. Provided they beat Coventry on they Saturday, they will have to get past Chelsea or Manchester City to lift the trophy.
On current form, however, neither seems likely.
West Ham – P33, 48 points
West Ham would currently be the beneficiary of the Premier League securing an extra European spot. Whether they will be in a position to reap said benefits remains open to debate.
The Hammers have gone off the boil at the wrong time and a run of just one win in their last six Premier League outings has left them just one point ahead of Chelsea, having played two games more.
West Ham travel to Stamford Bridge on May 5, part of an incredibly difficult run-in that also sees them facing Liverpool at home at week earlier and travel to the Etihad to take on City on the final day of the season.
A trip to Selhurst Park on Sunday could prove tricky, coming just three days after the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final against newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Luton, meanwhile, will be desperate for points when they travel to the London Stadium on the penultimate weekend of the campaign.
David Moyes has struggled to get West Ham back to winning ways in the Premier League
The Hammers have won just once in their last six games in the Premier League
Chelsea – P31, 47 points
Whisper it, but are Chelsea finally clicking? Inspired by the superb Cole Palmer, the Blues are unbeaten in the league since February 4 and have closed the gap on the European spots by beating Newcastle and Manchester United over the past month.
Draws against Burnley and Sheffield United were timely reminders that Mauricio Pochettino’s team remain wildly unpredictable, but they are in better form than United and West Ham – the two teams directly above them in the table.
Crucially, Chelsea have two games in hand over the Hammers and one over United, who they trail by one and three points respectively.
The bad news for Chelsea is that they face an almighty difficult run-in, in which they face three of the top five teams in eight days.
Chelsea have finally discovered some form thanks to Cole Palmer’s brilliance in front of goal
The Blues take on Arsenal at the Emirates next Tuesday, before travelling to Villa Park four days later.
Home derbies against Spurs and West Ham follow, before a visit to the City Ground to face a Nottingham Forest side needing points to avoid the drop.
That is followed by another trip to Brighton, before Bournemouth are due a Stamford Bridge on the final day of the campaign.
Like United, Chelsea could also secure a European spot by winning the FA Cup.
Considering their issues this season, finishing with a trophy and a European berth would be a step in the right direction for Pochettino.
Mail Sport’s verdict
Newcastle should make the most of a relatively easy run-in to secure a European spot for the second consecutive season, despite their injury problems.
Man United should scrape into Europe provided they beat Burnley, Sheffield United and the Magpies at home, but are in danger of equalling their worst-ever finish in the Premier League by coming seventh.
Impressive as their recent run of form has been, Chelsea face a daunting fixture list and will have to settle for a Conference League spot if the Premier League receives an additional Champions League place.
West Ham, meanwhile, look destined to miss out to Europe altogether due to a combination of difficult fixtures and a lack of form.