The battle for Champions League qualification intensifies this weekend with several high-stakes fixtures across the Premier League.
The headline clash sees Newcastle United welcome Manchester United to St James’ Park, according to BusinessDay.
The Magpies are riding a wave of momentum with three consecutive wins, including a commanding 3–0 victory over Leicester City, and could leapfrog fourth-placed Chelsea by a point with another triumph. Newcastle also have a game in hand, adding further weight to the encounter.
Manchester United, currently languishing in 13th after a goalless Manchester Derby, still hold the potential to influence the European race and will be eager to play spoiler while rebuilding their form.
Saturday’s action begins with Manchester City hosting Crystal Palace. Despite dropping points last weekend, a win for the champions could propel them back into the top four, depending on other results. Arsenal, who were held by Everton in their previous outing, will be keen to close the gap on leaders Liverpool when they face Brentford.
On Sunday, league leaders Liverpool — who suffered a 3–2 defeat at the hands of Fulham — will be aiming to bounce back against struggling West Ham as they look to tighten their grip at the summit. Chelsea, meanwhile, face Ipswich in a must-win fixture to remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Elsewhere, key games with European implications include Brighton vs Leicester, Nottingham Forest vs Everton, Southampton vs Aston Villa, and Wolves vs Tottenham — all set to play a role in shaping the season’s run-in and mid-table battles.
