The race for 5th place in the Premier League is intense, with only 4 points separating 5th to 14th positions, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham.

Each Premier League season, the fiercest competition might not be for the title or survival, but for Champions League qualification. As the Premier League tops the European points rankings, the top five teams now earn Champions League spots. This season’s fight for 5th place is especially fierce. Why? After 20 rounds, the gap between 5th place (Chelsea) and 14th place (Crystal Palace) is only 4 points, indicating all teams in this range are contenders for Champions League qualification. This group includes Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, and others.

Points standings from 5th to 14th after 20 Premier League rounds:

• 5th place: Chelsea, 31 points.
• 6th place: Manchester United, 31 points.
• 7th place: Brentford, 30 points.
• 8th place: Sunderland, 30 points.
• 9th place: Newcastle, 29 points.
• 10th place: Brighton, 28 points.
• 11th place: Fulham, 28 points.
• 12th place: Everton, 28 points.
• 13th place: Tottenham, 27 points.
• 14th place: Crystal Palace, 27 points.

Fans joke that the Premier League officials must be laughing hard, as such a tight ranking boosts viewership and discussion around the league tremendously.

A final soul-searching question: Is the Premier League your top league? Do you watch 2 to 3 Premier League matches live every weekend?