The Premier League's Champions League Battle: Who Will Secure A Spot?

Its becoming easier to see the Nottingham Forest for the trees in the race for Uefa Champions League football next season, after their win over Manchester City at the weekend confirmed Nuno Espirito Santos team as favourites for one of the four or five Champs League places.

The battle for a spot among Europes elite next season is wide open, and looks like it will go down to the wire.

With Liverpools place long secured, the Gunners, Citizens, Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle, resurgent Brighton and even Bournemouth are all in the mix. And the picture seems to change every week. It has added intrigue to a run-in that seemed set to fizzle out after the gap between Arsenal and Liverpool ballooned.

A recent Forest wobble suggested all their hard work this season they are the only team to beat the Reds in the league so far would be undone in the final straight. But they set the record straight in emphatic fashion at the weekend with a typically resolute defensive display against Man City.

They are not alone among the chasers for Champions League places next season, who are punching above their weight.