How can Newcastle qualify for the Champions League?
Eddie Howe's Newcastle are well ahead of schedule and the Toon Army are already dreaming of recreating those magical European nights of 2002/03.
A lean period during the opening two months of 2023 threatened to compromise a hugely promising campaign for the Magpies, but Howe's side steadied in the wake of their Carabao Cup final defeat and rattled off five-straight wins before they were swatted aside by Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Despite their troubles in the Midlands, Newcastle are still well-placed to secure their first Champions League berth in 20 years.
Their Saudi-backed project has returned glee to Tyneside, with unification bringing about the desired outcome on the pitch. The Magpies are a Premier League force once more.
Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures
Newcastle's first attempt at bouncing back from this Aston Villa humbling is a heavyweight Champions League qualification clash with Tottenham at St James' Park.
Sean Dyche's Everton are next up on the road, before doomed-looking Southampton toddle up to the North East three days later.
Arsenal's Premier League title dreams could be crushed on May 7, with Leeds, Leicester, and Chelsea also on the horizon. There's also a rearranged fixture with Brighton to squeeze in somewhere.
Date | Fixture | Kick-Off Time |
|---|---|---|
23/04/23 | Newcastle vs Tottenham | 14:00 |
27/04/23 | Everton vs Newcastle | 19:45 |
30/04/23 | Newcastle vs Southampton | 14:00 |
07/05/23 | Newcastle vs Arsenal | 16:30 |
13/05/23 | Leeds vs Newcastle | 12:30 |
20/05/23 | Newcastle vs Leicester | 15:00 |
28/05/23 | Chelsea vs Newcastle | 16:30 |
TBC | Newcastle vs Brighton | TBC |
Who are Newcastle competing with for Champions League qualification?
Howe's side sit fourth in the table and are three points adrift of Man Utd in third. They're currently firm favourites to qualify for the Champions League next season, even if Tottenham are just three points off them.
Unai Emery's Aston Villa, whom Newcastle recently succumbed to, are more likely to pose a threat to the Magpies than Spurs, while Brighton won't be too far off should they win their games in hand - which includes a trip to St. James' Park.
Liverpool are a long way off at this stage, but they aren't completely out of the race just yet.
How many points normally earns Champions League qualification?
In Premier League history, a fourth-place finish has been secured by as little as 60 points - Liverpool earned Champions League football by bagging this amount in 2003/04 - and as much as 79 points - that's the figure Arsenal needed to secure their place at Europe's top table in 2013/14.
Average wise, since the Premier League were afforded four spots from 2001/02 onwards, 69.66 points have been required to get the job done.
Newcastle sit 13 points adrift of that figure currently, but do have a good number of home games remaining to get to that mark. They will fancy their chances, too, with Eddie Howe's boys strong in front of the St James' Park faithful.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
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