Shearer, Lineker and Richards on "incredible" top-five finale - Advantage Newcastle?

Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast this morning, Alan Shearer has been discussing the race for the top five alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.

Newcastle losing 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday has set up a tense climax to the campaign with Eddie Howe’s side being forced to wait until the final game of the season to confirm their Champions League qualification.

Victory over Everton on the 2024/25 Premier League season’s concluding day would guarantee the Magpies a spot in the top five, with tremendous pressure on the Toon to get over line with only a point separating third and seventh.

Shearer had his say on the “incredible” ending to the campaign, and previewed this Sunday’s action alongside Lineker and Richards

Shearer, Lineker and Richards on UCL race

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes that his boyhood side are in a strong position ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures.

Win on Sunday and Champions League football is returning to St James' Park for 2025/26; a scenario Newcastlee would've 'snapped your hands off for' not long ago.

“Yeah, absolutely [it will be a tense final day],” he said. "But if you had said to any Newcastle fan, you’ve got Everton at home last game of the season and you win and you go into Champions League football, they would have snapped your hands off for that.

“And that’s the case because it looks as if one of Forest or Chelsea are going to miss out. It’s a playoff basically. It’s a playoff for Champions League football. I mean, that is one of the biggest games ever. Massive game for those teams. So yeah, it’s incredible how tight it is, isn’t it? It’s unbelievable.”

Gary Lineker admitted he was shocked that it is a genuine possibility that City miss out on Champions League football, needing four points from their final two games against Bournemouth and Fulham to secure top five.

“I never envisaged, even with their struggles this season, I never thought for a moment that [City] might miss out on Champions League - particularly when you knew it went to five. I still think they’ll make it, that’s my view.”

Micah Richards also gave his prediction for the final rankings: “I think City get third, Newcastle fourth. I think Newcastle beat Everton on the last day.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjbat6QIPj8&t=2002s&ab_channel=TheRestIsFootball

Nervous final day - but we're in pole position!

Newcastle head into the final day of Premier League fixtures knowing that fate is in our own hands. Win, and we’re in - it’s that simple.

It won't be a walkover, but a home fixture against an Everton side with nothing to play for offers us a huge opportunity, especially when we've won six Premier League games on the spin at St James' Park.

Jordan Pickford will stand in Toon’s way and hope to spoil the party, with the Sunderland-aligned goalkeeper sure to give and receive plenty of stick on Sunday.

The England international will not be the story on the day. It will come down to us, we are better than Everton and we have to beat them to avoid a disappointing ending to an otherwise impressive campaign.