Premier League Talking Points: Wolves Ease Relegation Fears, Newcastle Shines In Dream Weekend

Nottingham Forest emerged as the standout winners in the contest for a spot in next season’s Champions League this weekend in the Premier League, while Wolves nearly guaranteed their survival.

Arsenal took advantage of Liverpool’s absence from league action to close to within 12 points of the leaders courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Newcastle defeated Liverpool at Wembley to win the League Cup, marking their first trophy in 56 years. Additionally, the results favored the Magpies in their pursuit of a top-five finish.

At the bottom, more defeats for Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton leave the bottom three seemingly doomed.

Newcastle’s dream days

Newcastle’s charge toward a return to the Champions League has halted in recent weeks, with their focus distracted by the League Cup final.

Eddie Howe’s squad etched their names into the club’s history with a remarkable 2-1 victory over Liverpool. It was also a successful few days for Newcastle in the Premier League, as their competitors for a Champions League spot faltered.

A top-five finish is almost certain to be enough thanks to English clubs’ strong performance in European competition this season.

Chelsea’s lackluster defeat at the Emirates has left the fourth-placed Blues with only a two-point lead over Newcastle, who have a game in hand.

Manchester City currently occupies fifth place, positioned between them, after managing only a 2-2 draw with seventh-placed Brighton.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s hopes of European qualification are also dwindling following a 2-1 defeat to Brentford, which has seen the Cherries drop to 10th place.

Forest responds to Tuchel

Despite having an impressive season, Nottingham Forest had no players selected when Thomas Tuchel announced his first England squad on Friday.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, and Callum Hudson-Odoi were among those left out, a decision that did not go unnoticed by the traveling fans at Ipswich, where Forest triumphed with a convincing 4-2 victory.

Gibbs-White set up the fourth goal for Jota Silva and was finally rewarded with a call-up to Tuchel’s squad as an addition on Sunday.

The victory brought Forest even closer to a return to European football’s top competition for the first time since 1980.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is now six points ahead of City with only nine matches remaining.

Wolves Ease Relegation Fears

Any remaining uncertainties regarding the relegation battle were eliminated when Wolves secured a crucial 2-1 victory at Southampton, with Jorgen Strand Larsen scoring both goals.

Wolves are now nine points clear of the relegation zone, while the bottom three teams continue to show little sign of recovery.

Ipswich have not won in 10 games in 2025, Leicester have lost 13 of their last 14 under Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Southampton remain on course to be the worst side in Premier League history.

“This club doesn’t deserve relegation, the people of this club don’t deserve it,” said Wolves boss Vitor Pereira.

“I’m feeling this with my heart and it’s a project I want to take with both hands.”