Top-five race heats up as Saints try to avoid unwanted history

Liverpool have wrapped up the Premier League title and the three relegated teams know their fate but the fight for the top five is reaching a climax.

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At the other end of the table, Southampton are bidding to avoid finishing their dismal season on a historic low note.

Fourth-placed Manchester City are locked in a tense fight with Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, who lost 2-0 against Brentford on Thursday.

The top five finishers will all qualify for the Champions League after strong performances in Europe from English clubs.

Forest are back in action at Crystal Palace on Monday, while Villa host Fulham on Saturday. Newcastle travel to Brighton on Sunday, with Chelsea hosting Liverpool later that afternoon.

Enzo Maresca believes his Chelsea team can get closer to Liverpool next season as he prepares to welcome the newly crowned Premier League champions.

Fifth-placed Chelsea are now 22 points behind the champions but still have their eyes firmly set on a top-five finish, which would secure Champions League qualification.

"I think the gap (to Liverpool) is there, you can see it clearly," said Maresca, whose team have won five of their past eight league matches.