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Newcastle's win against Chelsea could have a big bearing in Champions League qualification(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

After a dramatic weekend of Premier League action, the battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League remains very much alive.

Just six points separate second and seventh, and there are just six more points to play for as those six teams bid to join Liverpool in the Champions League.

The magic number this season is five, not four, with English teams' progress in the three European competitions ensuring an extra team will qualify via their league finish.



There will be a sixth Premier League side at Europe's top table, with one of Manchester United and Tottenham poised to make it in depending on the result in the Europa League final, but that won't take a spot away from those top five finishers.

A win fro Arsenal away at Liverpool could have guaranteed a Champions League return for the Gunners.

Any suggestion the Gunners wouldn't be able to turn it back on in the league were put to bed by the way they responded to falling 2-0 behind at Anfield, though Mikel Merino's one-game ban after his red card is a frustration.

Arsenal will be without the suspended Mikel Merino for their match against Newcastle(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Two more points in their last two games would make Champions League qualification mathematically certain, though they'll also want to clinch second spot after allowing the chasing pack to catch up.

The striker will miss the last two games of the season through suspension, and Enzo Maresca's side will need to find goals from elsewhere.

Nicolas Jackson will miss Chelsea's last two games after his red card at Newcastle(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)

First up is a Manchester United (h) team with half an eye on the Europa League final, and on a dismal run of two points from seven games.

They have picked up just one point from their three City Ground games against Everton, Brentford and Leicester to fall out of the top six for the first time since the turn of the year.

That return means no games are easy, but wins against West Ham (a) and Chelsea (h) would guarantee Europa League qualification.
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