THE last weeks of the football season always throw up any number of permutations and here planetfootball.com gives you the definitive guide to the end-of-year Premiership possibilities. Obviously with Manchester United 14 points clear at the top of The Premiership there is no complication as to where the championship is going.

In second place, Arsenal need six points from their three remaining games to secure a Champions League berth.

The tightest battle appears to be that for the third spot with Leeds, Ipswich and Liverpool - who have already achieved Uefa Cup qualification - battling to secure the last Champions League berth.

Chelsea - who just need six points to be sure of European football next season - also hold a mathematical chance of reaching third place, but only if Leeds and Ipswich fail to earn two points from their remaining games.

There is a chance of a fourth side getting into Europe's premier competition if Leeds win the Champions League. In that scenario the fourth-placed team would qualify for the tournament if David O'Leary's side finish in the top three, or if they finished in fourth or worse then the third placed team would get the chance.

As for the Uefa Cup, at the start of this term only one place in this competition was attainable through the league - as the others went to the FA and Worthington Cup winners - but with Liverpool winning the latter prize and either The Reds or Arsenal set to win the former, this means that sixth place will now ensure a side Uefa Cup football in the 2001/2002 season.

However, this could extend to the seventh or even eighth side also qualifying for the competition if Leeds win the Champions League or Liverpool win the Uefa Cup (or both win their respective tournaments).

Presuming neither side wins the trophy, the battle is on between Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Charlton for the remaining Uefa Cup place. Newcastle, Tottenham and Southampton also standing an outside chance of making this.

Another way into Europe for both Newcastle and Southampton could be through the fair play league, as both are the highest ranked teams who are unlikely to automatically qualify. Uefa give all of Europe`s fairest teams the chance to enter into a draw to win a place in Europe.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

Answers

Clutching at straws but we've had our bad spell and hopefully we can finish on a high as the lads finally realise that they are playing for their futures at the club.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

What about the Intertoto? Aren't we the second highest team at the moment behind Chelsea in the list of those that have applied? I don't think either Charlton, Sunderland or Villa wanted to take part in in. Or am I wrong?

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

I think Villa appiled for the Intertoto Rik.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

just looked on The web site and Villa along with Chelsea are the teams above us that have asked to be considered for the two Bob. So we have to hope that they automatically qualify for UEFA. putting us into the draw for the Toto cup.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

So a fight with Aston Villa on the last day of the season in a winner takes all Intertoto Cup qualifying extravaganza!! We owe them for the FA Cup!!

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

Only if we win tonight DB....we can forget about it if we don't do that....

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

Cheer up Gav at least we've avoided relegation......

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

According to RIK, the teams who have applIed for the Intertoto Cup are Chelsea, Coventry, Everton, Leicester, West Ham, Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Is that means assuming Chelsea and Leeds get the automatic qualifying, we may qualify if we finish above the remainings?

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

I would really enjoy being able to see the toon play at St Jame's in the middle of summer. Kick off for the inter toto is 15th July .... which also happens to be my birthday.

The summer months can be so boring without any footy, even watching NUFC play MyPa 42 would be a real birthday treat for me.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

If Chelsea goes into the top six then it's us or Villa in the InterToto (extremly silly name isn't it?)

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001