Top-five hopefuls battle for UCL riches

The Premier League race is over and relegation is decided — but the battle for Champions League qualification remains wide open with just two rounds to go.

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Only champions Liverpool are so far guaranteed one of the five places up for grabs in Europe's top club competition next season and second-placed Arsenal look almost certain to join them.

But just four points separate third-placed Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in seventh spot.

AFP Sport picks out the main talking points ahead of the weekend's action in the English top flight.

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Arsenal have been Liverpool's closest challengers for most of the campaign and a few weeks ago appeared to have second spot locked down.

But a win for Newcastle on Sunday would take the Magpies a point above the Gunners, who have won just one of their past six league games.

Newcastle, by contrast, have been buoyant since winning the League Cup final against Liverpool in mid-March, losing just once in eight league games since.

Sunday's 2-0 win against top-five rivals Chelsea was a huge stride towards Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons.