Joe Buck takes a look at all the latest permutations surrounding Newcastle United and the race for Champions League qualification heading into the final weekend of Premier League action. Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are all hopeful of a top five finish - but only three will make it.
00:00So, Newcastle United are preparing for their biggest league game of the season against Everton at home at St James' Park on Sunday.
00:09Now, of course, the task for Newcastle is simple. Win and they'll be playing Champions League football next year.
00:15There is, of course, a very, very, very, very slight possibility that Aston Villa turn over a massive goal difference swing and a win is irrelevant anyway.
00:23But that's unlikely to happen. So, yeah, essentially, Newcastle United win against Everton on Sunday and they'll be playing Champions League football next year.
00:30How are the nerves of Newcastle fans? I think, you know, if it had been any other club, I think you'd probably fancy Newcastle getting the win at home in front of their own crowd.
00:39You know, they've been really good there recently. Of course, beat Chelsea, beat Ipswich in modern times.
00:45But it's Everton. The Everton factor, you know, they're a tough team to beat. David Moyes got them well set up.
00:49They don't lose many games, don't concede many goals. We all remember what happened around this time last year, April last year.
00:55It was Sean Dyches, Everton. They came frustrated. Newcastle got a 1-1 draw with a late penalty.
01:00And that result really dented their European hopes. A draw this weekend could be catastrophic.
01:06But, you know, Newcastle will go in with hope that they can get a win and that they will secure Champions League football from a personal point of view.
01:12I think they're good enough to do that. I think Everton have had a draining week, especially with the end of Goodison Park last week.
01:18And obviously they come in with very little to play for it. They're going to finish 13th, no matter what.
01:24And Newcastle are going to be up for it. And as I said, the home crowd can, you know, turn Newcastle or St James Park into a fortress.
01:29So that should hopefully boost them on. Now, as I said, if Newcastle don't win, then a draw opens the door for Aston Villa and Chelsea to overtake them.
01:40And of course, Nottingham Forest will overtake them as well.
01:42Manchester City, I think everyone assumes, will get there. They play Fulham. They're two points ahead of Newcastle and Aston Villa and Chelsea.
01:51Three points ahead of Nottingham Forest. So they're going to be in the top five unless they lose, which opens another door of possibilities.
01:57But as I said, if Newcastle don't win, then Aston Villa have to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
02:02Oh, sorry. If Newcastle draw, Aston Villa have to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford because of that goal difference.
02:09Chelsea will likely just will have to win as well against Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest can win.
02:15They can overtake them. So it's a whole host of things. But as my colleague Dom Sker put a really good graphic on social media,
02:20I really urge you to check that out because that was a really good clear graphic.
02:24I think it's on this page as well of just what happens if Newcastle United don't win on Sunday.
02:29But essentially, as I said at the beginning of this video, if they win, they can forget about what happens at Old Trafford,
02:33what happens at the City Ground, what happens at Craven College. They've done their job.
02:37Now, if they don't do their job, then they are reliant on Manchester United, the Europa League finalist tonight,
02:42doing something against Aston Villa. They are reliant on Chelsea, Nottingham Forest potentially draw.
02:47And if they draw, if them two draw and Newcastle draw, then Newcastle will be in the Champions League by virtue of goal difference.
02:52And then, of course, if all of that fails, then, you know, they won't be in the Champions League, put it that way.
02:59So, yeah, lots of permutations. I'm sure it's going to be a very nervy day, St. James Park.
03:04People will be on their phones, old-fashioned radios out, seeing what's happening.
03:07People at home won't be able to watch it.
03:09Crazily, Sky Sports have not picked this game for broadcast.
03:12It's instead gone with Liverpool Crystal Palace as one of their games.
03:16Now, don't get me wrong. I understand that Liverpool's title win and celebrations is a big thing,
03:20especially in front of a crowd. They weren't able to do that.
03:22Of course, in 2020, the last time they won it, but that's an after-the-match celebration.
03:26You could have that on any channel. You could just show that.
03:29So, to have that game, which means nothing in the grand scheme of things,
03:32over Newcastle Everton, is a bizarre decision, but that's what it is.
03:35So, yes, those not in attendance at St. James Park,
03:37we'll have to find creative ways of keeping up to date with all that.
03:40I'm sure social media will help. Radio commentary, of course, will be.
03:43And then, of course, stay up to date with the Shields Gazette.
03:45We'll have constant updates on our social media site of the events that happen,
03:50not just St. James Park, but elsewhere throughout the country.
03:52But, yes, as I mentioned, way back in this video, Newcastle United win.
03:55They get their job done. They're in the Champions League.
03:57We can prepare for that next year.
03:59If they don't, they're relying on results elsewhere.
04:01At the end of the day, you know, Champions League football is the aim.
04:04It's the aim for the club. The financial benefit is massive.
04:07And, of course, fans want to be in the Champions League.
04:09The Europa League, is that a bad, necessary sort of replacement?
04:12I don't think it is.
04:13We've seen this year with Manchester United and Tottenham reaching the final.
04:15You don't have to be anywhere near the best team in England to win that competition
04:18or certainly get far.
04:19And Newcastle will probably start that next year if they did get in the Europa League
04:22as one of the favourites, you know, to try on.
04:24But everyone wants to be playing Champions League football,
04:26especially with the rebound format.
04:27We've seen Aston Villa go far this year.
04:29Arsenal go far in the tournament as well.
04:31It can be done and Newcastle will want to be there.
04:33And, of course, in the summer window, if you can offer all these players
04:36Champions League football, not just players coming into the club,
04:38people like Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimara, Sven Bottmann,
04:42all them players that they want to hold on to, not just this summer,
04:45but for summers to come, if they can offer Champions League football,
04:48they've already won that trophy that's eluded them,
04:50then that will be a brilliant help.
04:52But, as I said, their destiny is in their own hands.
04:54They won't want it any other way.
04:55They won't want it or rely on anyone else.
04:57They'll know that if they can do the job against Everton at home,
04:59they will be playing Champions League football.
05:01I'll certainly back them to do that.
05:03I would love to hear your thoughts below on whether you think Newcastle
05:06will be playing Champions League football next season.
