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Final-day permutations: What do each club need?

19 May 2024

See the results needed in the title race, fight for Europe and battle against relegation

What results do each of the title contenders need to be champions? How can teams secure European qualification?

With plenty to play for, and a number of clubs relying on other teams to do them a favour, see what's needed on the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

How can Man City win the title?

If Manchester City win their final-day home encounter with West Ham United, they will be crowned champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season.

If they fail to win, they need at least to match the result that Arsenal get at home to Everton. But even a draw with West Ham and an Arsenal defeat would be enough.

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How can Arsenal win the title?

For Arsenal to lift their first Premier League Trophy in 20 years, they must first beat Everton at home. They then also need Man City to drop points at home to West Ham.

Arsenal's superior goal difference means that if the two teams finish level on points, with the Gunners winning and City drawing, Arsenal would be champions.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Man City MCI	38	+62	91
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+62	89

How can Spurs qualify for Europa League?

Tottenham Hotspur have missed out on a top-four finish and a place in the UEFA Champions League, but they are close to securing fifth place and a spot in the UEFA Europa League.

A draw at bottom club Sheffield United would secure that fifth-place finish. If Spurs lose, they must hope Chelsea fail to beat AFC Bournemouth at home, because Chelsea have a better goal difference.

Even if Spurs lose and are overtaken by Chelsea, Ange Postecoglou's side are still guaranteed to play in a European competition next season as they cannot finish lower than sixth.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
5	Spurs TOT	38	+13	66
6	Chelsea CHE	38	+14	63
7	Newcastle NEW	38	+23	60
8	Man Utd MUN	38	-1	60

How can Chelsea qualify for Europe?

A draw at home against Bournemouth would secure a sixth-placed finish, the final spot that guarantees European football next season.

The Blues would then have to wait until after the FA Cup final is played on 25 May to find out whether they are going into the Europa League or the UEFA Europa Conference League.

See: Why the FA Cup final will decide European places

If Chelsea beat Bournemouth and Spurs lose to Sheff Utd, Mauricio Pochettino's side would finish fifth and be certain of a Europa League spot.

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How can Newcastle qualify for Europe?

Newcastle must win at Brentford and hope Chelsea lose to Bournemouth. Then Eddie Howe's side would finish sixth due to having a superior goal difference than Chelsea.

If Newcastle miss out on sixth, they must ensure they finish seventh, above Manchester United - with the sides currently level on points - and then hope that Man City beat Man Utd in the FA Cup final.

In that scenario, Newcastle will earn a place in the Europa Conference League.

How can Man Utd qualify for Europe?

The eighth-placed Red Devils have two shots at Europe - they can qualify through their league position or by winning the FA Cup, because the cup winners are rewarded with a Europa League spot.

Sixth place looks out of reach for Man Utd, given Chelsea are three points ahead and 16 goals better off on goal difference. Man Utd must therefore focus on bettering Newcastle's result this weekend when they visit Brighton & Hove Albion and aim to leapfrog the Magpies into seventh place.

If they can do so, Man Utd will qualify for a European competition regardless of what happens in the FA Cup final.

If they win at Wembley Stadium, they will take a place in the Europa League as the competition winners. If they lose against Man City in the FA Cup final then their seventh-place finish would take them into the Europa Conference League.

If they lose at Brighton on the final day AND in the FA Cup final, they won't qualify for European competition.