Alan Shearer is ready for a tense final day as Newcastle United aim to secure Champions League qualification.
With Newcastle losing 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday, Eddie Howe’s side now have to wait until the last game of the season to book their place in the 2025/26 Champions League.
Newcastle United know that they will finish in the top five if they beat Everton next Sunday, with the Toffees travelling to St James’ Park.
The Magpies are under huge pressure to get over the line, but Toon icon Alan Shearer believes that they would have taken this situation if it was offered to them a while ago.
Newcastle United prepare for ‘incredible’ final day of the Premier League season
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer discussed the race to finish in the Premier League’s top five.
The Newcastle United legend previewed next Sunday’s game against Everton, admitting that his beloved Magpies are in a strong position going into the final round of Premier League fixtures.
“Yeah, absolutely [it will be a tense final day],” he said.
“But if you had said to any Newcastle fan, you’ve got Everton at home last game of the season and you win and you go into Champions League football, they would have snapped your hands off for that.
“And that’s the case because it looks as if one of Forest or Chelsea are going to miss out. It’s a playoff basically. It’s a playoff for Champions League football. I mean, that is one of the biggest games ever.
“Massive game for those teams. So yeah, it’s incredible how tight it is, isn’t it? It’s unbelievable.”
Newcastle United will hope there is no Jordan Pickford masterclass
With Newcastle United facing Everton in their final game of the season, that means Jordan Pickford will have the chance to ruin the Magpies’ Champions League aspirations.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 36 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 83 | 37 | 46 | 83 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 37 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 67 | 33 | 34 | 71 |
| 3 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 37 | 20 | 6 | 11 | 68 | 46 | 22 | 66 |
| 4 |  ChelseaChelsea | 37 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 63 | 43 | 20 | 66 |
| 5 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 37 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 58 | 49 | 9 | 66 |
| 6 |  Man CityManchester City | 36 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 67 | 43 | 24 | 65 |
| 7 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 37 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 58 | 45 | 13 | 65 |
The England goalkeeper will be more than happy to do that, given his allegiance to Sunderland and the stick he always gets from the Toon Army.
Newcastle United fans always mock Pickford when he plays at St James’ Park. Who could forget the fans that poked fun at the stopper by dressing up as dinosaurs!
But Pickford has had plenty of joy against the Magpies. He was outstanding in a 1-1 draw on Tyneside last season, while Pickford saved Anthony Gordon’s penalty when the two teams drew 0-0 at Goodison Park back in October.
The Magpies know that a win on Sunday means they will qualify for the Champions League. They simply have to find a way past Jordan Pickford.
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