TWO Prem clubs are set to miss out on the Champions League top eight, according to supercomputer predictions.
But the outlook is much cheerier for Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal, who have received a boost as they look to secure their first Champions League trophy.
Things are tight in the standings as we head into the final match-week of the league phase, with five English clubs in the running to secure automatic qualification to the final 16.
Arsenal have already secured their spot alongside German giants Bayern Munich.
Liverpool are almost certain to join them as they host Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag at Anfield.
But a draw or loss could see rivals Manchester City leapfrog them should they secure a win over visitors Galatasaray on Wednesday night, with the Opta supercomputer giving them just a 37.2 per cent chance of having to go through the play-off round.
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The outlook is less rosy for fellow Prem side Chelsea, who have been tipped to miss out on the top eight, with a 64.1 per cent chance of ending up in the play-off round.
Eddie Howe‘s Newcastle face a similar fate as they make the tricky trip to face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital, with a 78.4 per cent likelihood of having to prove themselves in the play-offs.
Instead it is Spurs who are frontrunners to qualify automatically for the last 16, provided they can hold onto their spot in fifth when they travel to take on Eintracht Frankfurt.
But whether it is automatically or through the play-offs, all five Prem sides have been predicted to make it to the round of 16.
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Liverpool (98.3), Manchester City (93.6), Spurs (86.1), Chelsea (83.6), and Newcastle (81) have all been given more than an 80 per cent probability of joining the Gunners in the knockouts.
But they face a tough proposition if they hope to keep up with Arteta’s side.
The North Londoners are predicted to storm the knockouts, with a 48.5 per cent chance of making it to the final and a 31 per cent chance of winning the whole thing.
Those odds of winning the lot are almost double those of the next likeliest side, Bayern Munich with 16.9 per cent.
Manchester City is the Prem’s next best hope of securing glory on the European stage, but at a comparatively meagre 8.8 per cent.
Liverpool are given similar hope, at 8 per cent.
But for Chelsea (3.8 per cent), Newcastle (3.1 per cent) and Tottenham (1.2 per cent) the hopes of them lifting the trophy drop dramatically.
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