FootyChatter.com

Football

Football ups, downs, play-offs and the race for Europe in 2024/25 - keep track of the issues across the divisions in the Premier League, EFL, WSL and Scottish Premiership Monday 21 April 2025 19: 50, UK The 2024/25 football season is nearing its conclusion, with some issues resolved and some still left to settle at the top and bottom of the leagues. Keep track of promotion, relegation, play-offs and the race for Europe in England and Scotland. Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title and could win it as early as Wednesday April 23 if Arsenal slip up against Crystal Palace. The top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League 2025/26 league phase, with Arsenal's quarter-final first-leg win over Real Madrid boosting England's UEFA coefficient and securing an extra place beyond the regular top four. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player In fact, Sky Sports has calculated a scenario that could see 11 Premier League sides in Europe. Newcastle have already secured a Conference League spot with their Carabao Cup win but could upgrade to the Champions League or Europa League through their league position. At the wrong end, Southampton were the first of three teams to be relegated to the Championship. The Saints suffered the earliest relegation in Premier League history and are seeking a new permanent manager after Ivan Juric's exit. Leicester's relegation has since been confirmed following a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. That result meant they became the first team in top-flight history to go nine consecutive home league games without scoring.

Stream the Premier League and more with NOW

Live football on Sky Sports this week

Championship fixtures

Live Championship table

Chelsea - three points clear at the top with a game in hand over Arsenal - are seeking a sixth successive Women's Super League title. That would also earn them a place in the Champions League league phase, with the runners-up joining in the second round and the third-placed side in the first round. Arsenal are two points clear of third-placed Manchester United. The bottom side - currently Crystal Palace - will be relegated to the Women's Championship. Leeds United and Burnley were promoted to the Premier League on a decisive Easter Monday. Leeds hammered Stoke 6-0 and Burnley's 2-1 win over Sheffield United hours later meant that both the Whites and the Clarets went up at the expense of the Blades, who surrendered top spot after three straight defeats in April. Sheffield United are guaranteed third place and Sunderland fourth spot, with both sides earning home advantage in the play-off semi-final second legs. Bristol City and Coventry have a respective four- and three-point cushion over seventh-placed Middlesbrough, but Michael Carrick's side, Millwall and Blackburn are all ready to pounce on any slip-ups above them to secure the final two play-off places. The relegation battle is set to go to the wire, with just six points separating Plymouth - bottom on goal difference - and 18th-placed Preston. Cardiff, Luton, Derby, Hull and Oxford are all still in peril. The Championship concludes on May 3, with the play-offs semi-finals on May 8/9 and May 12/13, and the final taking place at Wembley on Saturday May 24. Birmingham secured promotion to the Championship on April 8 - the earliest promotion across the divisions this season - and were crowned champions a few days later. Second-placed Wrexham are two points clear of Wycombe for the other automatic spot with two games to go, while Charlton and Stockport are assured of a play-off place and retain slim hopes of the second spot. Leyton Orient and Reading - separated only on goal difference - look set to do battle for the final play-off spot. Shrewsbury have been relegated to League Two, with Cambridge and Crawley likely to soon join them. Bristol Rovers and Burton are bidding to avoid the final demotion slot. The League One play-off semi-finals take place on May 10 and May 14/15, with the Wembley final on Sunday May 25. The League Two promotion battle is set for a thrilling finale, with four points separating the top four of Doncaster, Port Vale, Bradford and Walsall and three automatic promotion places available. Only three points separate Chesterfield in 10th and Grimsby in seventh, meaning the play-off battle is also set for an exciting conclusion. Morecambe have been relegated and Carlisle - four points behind Tranmere in the second and final relegation spot - are on the brink. The play-off semi-finals take place on May 11 and May 16/17, with the final scheduled at Wembley on Monday May 26. The champions will secure automatic promotion to League Two, with Barnet six points clear of York City in second and needing just a point to guarantee promotion back to the EFL. The runners-up will enter a play-off alongside Forest Green and four other teams for the other spot back in the EFL. The bottom four teams are relegated to National League North or South, and will be replaced with the respective champions and play-off winners of those divisions. Ebbsfleet United became the first team in England's top five tiers to be relegated when demotion was confirmed on March 22. AFC Fylde have since joined them. The Scottish Premiership's post-split fixtures are out as clubs gear up for their final five league matches of the season. In the top half, Celtic are on the brink of a fourth consecutive title. Brendan Rodgers' side need just one point to clinch their 55th top-flight title and could get over the line on April 26 when they visit Dundee United at 12. 30pm, with the match live on Sky Sports. The champions will enter the Champions League play-off round, with the runners-up entering in the second qualifying round. Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen are all in a race for third spot. The third-placed team will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the fourth-placed team securing a second qualifying round spot in the Conference League. The bottom club will be relegated to the Scottish Championship, while the 11th-placed team will enter a play-off with three Championship sides. Just six points separate bottom side St Johnstone, Dundee, Ross County and Kilmarnock. The champions will be promoted to the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk are three points clear of Livingston and need a maximum of four points from their last two games to clinch the title. The runners-up will enter a play-off with Ayr United, another Championship side still to be confirmed and the 11th-placed Premiership team. Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!

© 2025 Sky UK