After an exciting week of UEFA Champions League and Europa League action, one of the world's biggest football leagues returns to our screens — the Premier League. As the season heads toward its climax, the battle for European spots is heating up. Typically, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League, but thanks to Arsenal’s performance this season, England now has an extra spot. This means that five clubs — or even six, if 14th-placed Manchester United or 17th-placed Tottenham win the Europa League — could make it into Europe's elite competition.
Liverpool’s Rocky Season
Liverpool has had a rough ride this season. Their first major blow came with a shock 1-0 defeat to Championship side Plymouth in the FA Cup. Then came their Champions League Round of 16 exit at the hands of PSG — a bitter pill considering they had topped their group with an unbeaten run, winning seven of their eight matches. To make matters worse, they also lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle.
From dreaming of a historic quadruple, they’re now left chasing just the league title. Still, Liverpool leads the Premier League table with 76 points. Arsenal sits second with 63 points — not so much due to Liverpool’s dominance, but more from the Gunners dropping unnecessary points and allowing Liverpool to pull away comfortably.
Underdogs Rising
Surprisingly, two underdog teams — Newcastle and Nottingham Forest — sit in third and fourth place, respectively, staking a strong claim for Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Manchester City, who have won the league four times in a row, have struggled with consistency. Still, they remain in the race for a top-four finish — thanks, in part, to Chelsea’s dramatic collapse.
Chelsea’s Fall from Grace
Believe it or not, Chelsea were second in the table as of December 2nd, 2024, right behind Liverpool. But after repeatedly claiming they weren't in the title race, the Blues bottled it. They now sit in sixth place, with their latest disappointment being a frustrating draw against Ipswich.
What’s Next?
This Saturday’s Premier League fixtures include:
Brentford vs Brighton Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth West Ham vs Southampton Newcastle vs Aston Villa Manchester City vs Everton
Why I’m Excited: West Ham vs Southampton & Man City vs Everton
First up, West Ham vs Southampton. Last week, Southampton were officially relegated to the Championship after losing every game in 2025. But one thing I know about relegated teams — they love to take points they no longer need, especially from top sides. However, since West Ham is also fighting relegation, maybe Southampton won’t park the bus with an 8-man defense just to snatch a point.
Still, the most exciting fixture for me is Manchester City vs Everton.
City desperately needs a win to climb back into the top four, especially with Nottingham Forest holding a game in hand. On the other side, Everton, playing their classic peak "Haram-ball," will likely fight tooth and nail — even if it means settling for a goalless draw.
Manchester City vs Everton kicks off at 15:00 BST — you don’t want to miss it!
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