Chelsea ensured that there is still plenty to play for in their final three matches of the season after battering West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Mauricio Pochettino’s men made it three wins with a clean sheet in a row at home, scoring 13 times in the process, leaving them well in the hunt for European qualification.
They have now responded to the 5-0 thumping from Arsenal with a strong second-half fightback away to Aston Villa followed by crucial derby victories over Tottenham and now West Ham in different circumstances.
The Blues moved ahead of Manchester United on Sunday with their win, also keeping the pace with Newcastle above them in sixth after Eddie Howe’s men put Burnley to the sword with their own emphatic performance on Saturday. It’s now four wins in five for the Magpies with four (and five) goals being scored in three of those.
Manchester United don’t play until Monday but will move ahead of Chelsea with even a point as they travel to Crystal Palace. Things are tight heading into the last fortnight though. Having occupied sixth for almost all of the campaign, Erik ten Hag’s men have dropped way off competing for the top four and a recent run of one league win in six
Even six weeks ago it was uncertain just how the European spots would be allocated as clubs planned for two eventualities. The Premier League had been in a season-long battle with Bundesliga and Serie A to secure an additional Champions League spot. This would have granted teams further down the table another opportunity to qualify for Europe.
The picture is now clear for just what each spot will grant a team. It leaves Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United all fighting for one place, and then even then it might not be enough.