Premier League: Top-Five Battle Heats Up as City and Saints Face Key Tests

The Premier League's top-five battle intensifies as Manchester City faces Wolves and Southampton aims to avoid a record-low finish. Get the latest updates.

The Premier League's top-five battle is intensifying as teams vie for European spots. Manchester City has staged a remarkable recovery from a mid-season slump and is now well-positioned to secure a Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Southampton is fighting to avoid an unwanted record as they look to salvage something from a disappointing season.

With Liverpool already crowned champions and three teams relegated, the focus shifts to the top-five race. City's resurgence has made them strong contenders for a Champions League spot. In contrast, Southampton's struggles have been severe, and avoiding a historic low finish is now a key goal for the Saints.

Manchester City Faces Tough Test Against Wolves

Manchester City's push for a Champions League spot faces a significant challenge as they take on in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) on Friday. City, currently in fourth place, is locked in a tight battle with Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest for a top-five finish, which guarantees a Champions League spot. Key players Rodri and Erling Haaland have returned to training but are not yet ready for action, adding to City's challenges ahead of the crucial match against Wolves.

City's Quest for Champions League Spot Tested by Wolves

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has kept his team in contention for a Champions League spot despite significant injuries to key players Rodri and Erling Haaland. With Rodri out since September and Haaland sidelined since March, Guardiola expects a tough test against in-form Wolves, who have won six consecutive games to climb clear of relegation danger. “The quality they have, the shape they play, the courage, it's no surprise,” Guardiola said. “Wolves have always had, in the last years, really good players and now they're having an incredible run. It's another final for us, an important game.”

Man City move up to third and strengthen their Champions League hopes 💪

They've got a four-point cushion inside the top five and have their eyes on Arsenal in second 👀 pic.twitter.com/AQdgj4kxq4

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 2, 2025

Southampton Aims to Avoid Record Low Finish

Southampton's relegation to the Championship has already been confirmed, but the team still hopes to avoid setting an unwanted record. Last weekend, they narrowly missed out on a draw against Fulham, which would have moved them beyond Derby's record-low Premier League points total of 11. With just four games left, Southampton's upcoming trip to Leicester offers their best chance to end their tie with Derby's 2007/08 record-low points tally.

“We have to be realistic about the situation I inherited,” said interim boss Simon Rusk.

“We've had some difficult results and we are bottom of the league. We were never going to become solid and dominant.

“If we did that when I came in with seven games to go, I'd probably be able to bring world peace as well.”

Arsenal Prepares for Crucial PSG Showdown

With the Premier League title race concluded and a third successive runners-up finish likely, Arsenal's focus has shifted to their upcoming Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. After losing the first leg 1-0, the Gunners will aim for a dramatic turnaround in the second leg at the Parc des Princes. Spain midfielder Mikel Merino expressed his teammates' confidence, saying they still believe they can advance to their first Champions League final since 2006. Given the stakes, it's uncertain whether manager Mikel Arteta will risk key players in Saturday's match against Bournemouth.

“We don't have to prove things to other people. We have to prove things to ourselves because we are our main critic, and we are the ones that want to win the most,” he said.

“That is why we are going to go in the second leg with all the energy in the world.”