Tottenham's Champions League and Europa League permutations ahead of Aston Villa vs Liverpool

The final week of the 2023/24 Premier League season is here. It promises to be a very interesting seven days with the title, European qualification and relegation all on the line.

For Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham, a place in Europe is very much up for grabs as they head into their final two fixtures against Man City and Sheffield United. A top-four finish is still a possibility but Aston Villa, who face Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday evening, are firmly in the driving seat for Champions League football, with qualification for the Europa League looking like a much more realistic prospect for the Lilywhites.

So where exactly do Tottenham stand in regards to both the Champions League and Europa League and what exactly needs to happen before the season draws to a close on Sunday evening? football.london takes a look below at the two scenarios facing the north London club.

Champions League

As things stand in the race for fourth, Aston Villa currently lead Tottenham by four points with both sides having two games of the season left to play. The Villans' penultimate fixture comes on Monday evening when they host Liverpool at Villa Park.

The final result in the match will give Tottenham an answer one way or another regarding their Champions League aspirations before they take on Man City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 24 hours later. A place in Europe's premier competition is very much in Aston Villa's hands and they will seal a spot in the 2024/25 Champions League on Monday evening if they beat Liverpool.

A draw or defeat, however, and that leaves the door open for Tottenham to potentially overtake Villa in their final two games. However, the issue Spurs have on Tuesday evening is that they are coming up against a relentless Man City side who are gunning for a fourth successive Premier League crown.

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If there is to be a scenario where Tottenham and Villa both finish the season on the same amount of points, the Midlands club would currently finish above their top-four rivals due to their superior goal difference. Aston Villa's goal difference ahead of the Liverpool match stands at +20, with Tottenham on +12.

Providing of course that Aston Villa don't beat Liverpool, Tottenham would need to get something out of the Man City game if they are to stand a chance of securing Champions League qualification as there is no guarantee Villa will win or draw at Crystal Palace on the final day given the Eagles' current form. If Aston Villa are to taste defeat against Liverpool on Monday evening and the same goes for Tottenham against Man City on Tuesday, Villa's place in the Champions League would be guaranteed as the sides would head into the final day with four points separating them.

Tottenham remaining fixtures

14/05 - Man City (H)

19/05 - Sheffield United (A)

Aston Villa remaining fixtures

13/05 - Liverpool (H)

19/05 - Crystal Palace (A)

Europa League

It does appear that Tottenham will be playing their football in the Europa League in 2024/25 unless there is a late twist in the tale. Currently fifth in the Premier League table and six points ahead of Newcastle United and Chelsea with all three teams having two games left to play, Spurs are very much in the driving seat for a Europa League berth.

All Postecoglou's side need to do in order to achieve that is to obtain one point from their last two Premier League games. That should be attainable, especially with the Lilywhites travelling to basement boys Sheffield United, who have only won three games all term and conceded 101 goals in the process, on the final day.

If Tottenham are to lose both of their remaining games, Newcastle United and Chelsea will be ready to pounce. Currently six points behind Spurs, both teams would need to win both of their remaining games and ensure that their goal difference is better.

Newcastle are already ten goals better off than Tottenham due to their +22 goal difference, with Chelsea currently level with Spurs on +12. Newcastle's final two games are both away from home against Manchester United and Brentford, while Chelsea travel to Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek and then take on Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham remaining fixtures

14/05 - Man City (H)

19/05 - Sheffield United (A)

Newcastle United remaining fixtures

15/05 - Manchester United (A)

19/05 - Brentford (A)

Chelsea remaining fixtures

15/05 - Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

19/05 - Bournemouth (H)

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