Will Fulham reach the Champions League? The race for Europe explained

The Premier League title race and relegation battles look ominously like 'done deals' - but what about the fight for Champions League football?

England's top division is on course to gain an additional spot in Europe's elite club competition for next season thanks to Uefa's coefficient ranking table, which you can find out more about here.

As a result, as many as seven Premier League clubs could qualify but that would require Arsenal - though unlikely - or Aston Villa to finish outside the top five and win the Champions League, and either Tottenham or Manchester United to win the Europa League.

Of the likely five spots on offer through the league, leaders Liverpool - 15 points clear at the top - will surely take one. Arsenal, in second, have an eight-point cushion to Newcastle in sixth so should secure another.

However, with 10th-placed Fulham just five points off fifth, as many as eight teams probably remain in the mix for the final three places.

Crystal Palace, in 11th, are in great form but closing a nine-point feels too big an ask, especially given the number of sides they would have to overhaul.

With 10 games left for most, BBC Sport looks at the eight clubs in contention and the challenges they will have to overcome to claim one of those lucrative places. Plus Phil McNulty gives his predictions on where each club will finish and fans have their say on why they back their team in the race for Europe...

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been this season's surprise package (and a big one at that), going from a relegation scrap last term to challenging at the top, claiming famous wins at Anfield and Old Trafford along the way. Dreams of the title have faded since the start of the year but they remain in a great position to end a memorable campaign celebrating Champions League qualification.

Key fixtures: The week after March's international break looks huge for Forest. After an FA Cup quarter-final at Brighton, they host Manchester United on 1 April before travelling to fellow top-five hopefuls Aston Villa four days later.

Should it go down to the wire, expect quite the atmosphere when Forest face Chelsea at the City Ground on the final day of the season in what could be a winner-takes-all match.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Fourth

What a story it will be for this great old club with the rich history of two European Cup wins under Brian Clough to return to the elite competition.

And the surge of belief that swept around the atmospheric City Ground after the win against Manchester City makes you believe the force is with Nuno's side.

They have a top-class goalkeeper in Matz Sels, formidable central defenders in Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, quality in midfield and out wide with Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Throw in a striker having the season of his life in Chris Wood and a top-four place is there for the taking.

Opta's prediction: 73.1% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Mossy: Best defence in the Premier League.

Stuart: Great business, great recruitment, great morals and an incredible work-rate.

Steve: Forest will continue to do what they've done for most of the games so far, defend well and catch teams on the break.

As recently as December, Chelsea were being mentioned as title challengers. Manager Enzo Maresca was quick to dismiss such talk before a post-Christmas slump that led to them dropping out of the Champions League spots. Back-to-back league wins suggest they might be finding form again at just the right time, though.

Key fixtures: If Chelsea are to make the top five, they will really have earned it given their remaining fixtures. They travel to Arsenal on Sunday, then host rivals Tottenham before tricky games at Brentford and Fulham in April.

In May they face Liverpool and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, either side of a trip to Newcastle, before that potentially crucial trip to Nottingham Forest on the last day.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Fifth

Touted as title contenders at one point, there has been a drop off in form but Maresca still has lots of quality at his disposal. Cole Palmer is the shining symbol of that.

Maresca's studied passing style of football has yet to fully win over Stamford Bridge and the fixture list is tough, but they should have enough to claim the fifth place which may secure Champions League football next season.

Opta's prediction: 54.5% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

John: We'll qualify for Champions League because key players - including Nico Jackson - will come back from injury, Cole Palmer will find his form, and Enzo Maresca will loosen his system a bit and let these guys play the way they want to play.

Fahey: Our remaining 10 fixtures should result in 19-21 points, making 68-70 points overall. I think 65 will be enough to get fifth place.

Matthew: Chelsea will qualify for the Champions League not on merit but because everyone else's form is also sketchy and others' inability to get results over the line will get us top five by default.

In Pep Guardiola's time as manager, Champions League qualification has been a formality for City. However, injury problems and a once-formidable squad starting to show signs of age means it is just a matter of time before the defending champions relinquish their crown - and they still have work to do to book their place at Europe's top table next season.

Key fixtures: In-form Brighton travel to the Etihad on Saturday with the chance to leapfrog City with a win, while Guardiola's side face Manchester United at Old Trafford early in April.

Bournemouth at home and Fulham away end City's league season and that could be very interesting should either side remain in the top-five hunt.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Third

City finishing in third place in the Premier League was unthinkable at the start of the season after four straight titles but they would gratefully settle for it now after a mediocre campaign by their own standards.

They still have some ground to make up, but with the quality still in Guardiola's squad and the goals of Erling Haaland, they should get that top-three place and go into the Champions League next season.

Opta's prediction: 81.3% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Scott: Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League via their league position after a run of eight wins from their final 10 games.

Mark: City will qualify because the teams around them are even more unreliable when it comes to winning games.

After a taste of the Champions League last season, a year without European football looked like the perfect opportunity for Newcastle to get themselves back there. Alexander Isak spearheaded a brilliant mid-season run to raise hopes they could kick on for a top-three finish, but three losses in their last five games, coupled with some untimely injuries, slowed their momentum.

Key fixtures: An away game against Aston Villa is the standout of a busy April in which Newcastle play six times in the league - with four home matches. A very tricky May follows, in which they travel to Brighton and Arsenal with Chelsea coming to St James' Park in between.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Sixth

This has been a mixed season, but eyes are firmly on that first major domestic prize in 70 years with the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.

Eddie Howe has a talented squad when fully fit, with a world-class striker in Isak. Top four may be beyond them but European football should not, irrespective of whether they end that long wait for a big trophy - their first since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

Opta's prediction: 50.7% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

John: It's not a difficult run-in and with six of the final 10 games at home, Eddie Howe has the expert ability to implement the right tactics to deliver success.

Connor: Eddie Howe is the best thing at this club in over 20 years and knows exactly what he's doing.

Ben: Alexander Isak - nothing more to say.

Brighton look to have hit form at just the right time in Fabian Hurzeler's first season in charge, winning their past four league matches. With an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to as well, the Seagulls could be heading for a thrilling conclusion to the campaign.

Key fixtures: After taking on Manchester City on Saturday, Brighton host Aston Villa in their first league match after the international break, then travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace. Home games against Newcastle and Liverpool follow in May before a trip to Tottenham on the final day.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Ninth

Momentum is all in the latter stages of the season and Brighton have it, as Hurzeler has engineered a remarkable run of six straight wins since the 7-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.

They can exact revenge on Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final, and anything is possible in their current form. They could yet make a nonsense of this prediction if it carries on, and they will really fancy their chances in the FA Cup.

Opta's prediction: 18.1% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Peter: The team play as a cohesive unit, believing in their potential to win against any opposition and backed up by an exemplar management structure, other clubs would be proud of.

Ian: Brighton have the momentum and there are no immovable objects in our way.

Max: They have belief in themselves and are not afraid of any club.

It has been a strange year for Aston Villa with Unai Emery's side thrilling in Europe but frustrating in the league. Given their Champions League exertions, perhaps the inconsistent league form shouldn't be too much of surprise. But, with one fewer game left to play than their rivals, Villa need to find last season's consistency for the next two months if they want to be back among Europe's elite in 2025-26.

Key fixtures: For all that two-legged quarter-final against Paris St-Germain will draw the eye, Villa have got some tricky league fixtures in April as well.

Brighton at home and Forest away start the month, Newcastle at Villa Park and Manchester City away end it. With Fulham, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United to follow in May, it doesn't get a whole lot easier.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Seventh

Villa's Premier League form has been up and down but Emery is the master of Europe and cup competitions and they are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup. They must be serious contenders in the latter with a last-eight game at Preston North End.

Will this be a distraction from the league? Time will tell, but Europe can still be achieved through the league, although repeating last season's top-four finish may be out of reach.

Opta's prediction: 6.9% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Prit: Strength in depth and the master strategist that is Unai Emery.

Michael: We have a better manager, better squad and a much better fanbase than the opposing teams!

Despite a terrible run with injuries, Bournemouth have continued to impress under Andoni Iraola this season. They've beaten Arsenal, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at home, thumped Newcastle at St James' Park and reached an FA Cup quarter-final. Adding Champions League qualification to the list should not be ruled out.

Key fixtures: With games at Arsenal and Manchester City to come in May, as well as a home match against Aston Villa, Bournemouth are likely to need a big April if they're to break into the top five. Given their only match against another side in the top half is at home to Fulham, the chance is there for them.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Eighth

Bournemouth are another team who will have eyes on what looks like a wide-open last eight in the FA Cup, although they have to navigate their way past Manchester City in the quarter-final.

Iraola has produced a top-class team with an intensity that makes them an eye-catching, entertaining watch. Will the FA Cup focus their minds more than the league?

Either way it has been another season of progress for the Cherries and a top-10 place is surely theirs.

Opta's prediction: 14.3% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Andrew: We will qualify for the Champions League because Iraola will keep them running and pushing forward until the very last second of the very last game.

Jules: Bournemouth play an aggressive game, press hard, never give up and they've got a great manager.

Ross: Andoni Iraola has transformed Bournemouth and he and the team deserve it.

Fulham are enjoying another excellent season with Marco Silva leading them to an FA Cup quarter-final and keeping them firmly in contention for a European place. The Cottagers are outsiders for a Champions League spot but draws against Arsenal and Liverpool, plus league doubles over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, have shown what they're capable of.

Key fixtures: Fulham face the top two in the space of five days in April - Arsenal away followed by Liverpool at Craven Cottage. Then it's Bournemouth and Chelsea before they go to Aston Villa and local rivals Brentford in May, finishing at home to Manchester City.

Phil McNulty's prediction: Tenth

Fulham have enjoyed another solid season of progress under the excellent coaching of Marco Silva and - add them to the list - will feel they have real chances in the FA Cup after winning on penalties at Manchester United.

Tenth is probably the highest they can reach but that represents another fine campaign. Could the FA Cup provide the icing?

Opta's prediction: 1.2% chance of a top-five finish

Fan views

Patrick: Only two more of our league games for the season are against teams below us but we have proven our worth against the elite teams and that mindset will allow us to make it into a Champions League position.

Luke: We have by far the hardest set of fixtures which I think favours Fulham because we play well against the best.