While West Ham will be traveling to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar in the semifinals of their UEFA Europa Conference League game on Thursday with the hopes of reaching the final and keeping their wild hopes of reaching Europe next season by winning the competition, a lot could be happening on the home front as Brighton travel to arguably the only other team that has surprised, overachieved and made giant strides this season.
Newcastle United’s takeover by a Saudi consortium and hiring of Eddie Howe as the club manager has brought in European football definitely for next season, but the UEFA Champions League is not confirmed and sealed yet despite sitting in third position.
Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Elland Road against Leeds United didn’t do their chances a huge favour, but they can make amends when Brighton visits St James’s Park. The Seagulls, under manager Roberto Di Zerbi have been a well-oiled machine and have not yet confirmed a European spot themselves is quiet rather because of luck and not of trying.
Brighton sits in sixth with 58 points and a slim outside chance of making UEFA Champions League football if they win on Thursday and their other three fixtures after that while hoping Liverpool loses its remaining two matches.
A Newcastle win will secure UEFA Champions League football, especially if Liverpool fails to win one of its remaining two games.
Thursday’s fixture is a rescheduled Matchday 28 fixture, while Brighton will still have three more games after the game, the highest number of fixtures left to be completed in the Premier League this season.
Brighton is boosted by their 3-0 win away at Arsenal on Sunday, which seemingly ended the league-winning hopes of Arsenal.
De Zerbi, in his pre-match conference, stated that Brighton is fighting for history, and to achieve history, they need historic results while admitting that Newcastle deserves to play in the Champions League.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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