The title race is long over and there is no last-day battle for survival, but the Premier League season is still set for a thrilling climax on Sunday with five clubs – separated by three points – vying for the three remaining Champions League spots.

Champions Liverpool and Arsenal are the only teams guaranteed a top five finish.

With Arsenal all-but assured of runners-up spot, that leaves Manchester City (68 points), Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa (all 66 points) and Nottingham Forest (65 points) battling it out for three places.

Tottenham Hotspur also secured a Champions League spot after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final, so six English clubs will compete in Europe’s elite competition next season.

Typically, only the top four teams qualify for the Champions League but England and Spain earned five spots for next season based on the performances of their clubs across the European tournaments.

With the top five teams qualifying for the Champions League, the sixth-placed side will now play in the Europa League, with the other spot in Europe’s second-tier competition going to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.

League Cup winners Newcastle qualify for the Conference League, but if they finish in the top five, that spot is handed down.

The Conference League winners also qualify for the Europa League and if Chelsea beat Real Betis in next week’s final, another team can get into Europe.

If Chelsea finish seventh and win the Conference League, or if Chelsea finish sixth and win the European competition while League Cup winners Newcastle are seventh, the eighth-placed team can qualify for the Conference League.

As things stand, Brighton & Hove Albion (58 points) and Brentford (55 points) have a chance.

In such a case, the Premier League would have 10 teams in Europe next season.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola said he would not check the scores of other games on Sunday while his team plays at Fulham in what he called by far the biggest game of their season.

Guardiola’s men are in pole position among the teams still battling to secure a top-five spot and sit third in the table on 68 points, realistically needing only a point from Sunday’s final game, unless Villa were to beat Manchester United by at least 17 goals.

“You have to look at ourselves, we need one point to go in the Champions League next season, and you have to go to win against a top side,” he said.

“By far,” he added, when asked if it was their most important match. “We have to deal like a normal game, prepare well. But of course, it’s really, really important, first because it’s an exceptional team. It will be a really tough game. Top, top side.”

While Rodri played for the first time in eight months on Tuesday, coming on to a standing ovation in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth, the midfielder and 2024 and Ballon d’Or winner, who had been out since suffering a knee injury in September, is not ready to start on Sunday.

“We’re really pleased he’s back, but it is a long way still to be what Rodri was, and my guess is it will be next season,” Guardiola said.