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The Race for the Champions League – A Rare Glimpse of Excitement in a Dull Season
- Steve Basing
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
On April 23rd, the Premier League’s two most significant outcomes – the title winners and the three relegated teams – are all but confirmed, and it is, frankly, disappointing. This week will likely see Liverpool clinch the title when a struggling Spurs side visits Anfield, and Ipswich’s return to the Championship will be confirmed, as they join Leicester and Southampton in dropping out of the Premier League.
The fact that relegation is effectively settled with several games to spare speaks volumes about the poor quality of the teams at the bottom of the table. It highlights the growing gulf between the Premier League’s elite and the rest. Similarly, Liverpool wrapping up the title with four or five games to spare casts a shadow over the rest of the supposed contenders, whose challenges have fallen flat.
There’s no sugarcoating it – this has been a largely forgettable season. However, the race for the Champions League spots offers a rare source of genuine late-season intrigue. With Liverpool and Arsenal seemingly locked in for the top two spots, the battle for the remaining places is finely poised. Just three points separate third from seventh, and with Chelsea and Forest stumbling, City inconsistent, and Newcastle and Villa surging at just the right time, this particular fight looks set to go down to the wire.
It’s worth noting the irony that a quarter of the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League – and that number could rise to six if Tottenham or Manchester United win the Europa League. Still, at least this battle for European football is injecting some desperately needed drama into an otherwise uninspiring campaign.
Despite late-season drama, congratulations are due to Leeds and Burnley, who this weekend sealed their return to the Premier League. In stark contrast to the top flight, the Championship has delivered thrills across the board. With just two games remaining, no team has been relegated, and even bottom-placed Plymouth are threatening a great escape after a string of late-season victories. The title race is also neck-and-neck, with Burnley and Leeds tied on 94 points. It’s all set to go down to the final day.
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