Newcastle flying high - how race for Europe stands

Newcastle are up to third place after demolishing Crystal Palace 5-0

Newcastle won their game in hand to climb to third place in the Premier League as the race for European football intensifies.

They posted a commanding 5-0 victory against Crystal Palace in a match that was rearranged after the Magpies made it to the EFL Cup final.

The win moved them two points clear of Nottingham Forest in fourth and they are now only four behind second-placed Arsenal with six games left.

With England having confirmed a fifth spot in the Champions League last week by topping Uefa's coefficient table, only seven points separate Manchester City in fifth and 10th-placed Brighton.

Newcastle capitalised on Forest losing 1-0 to Everton, their second straight defeat in the league, to rise up the table while Nuno Espirito Santo's side are now only three points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, who were held 2-2 by Ipswich Town.

Manchester City occupy the final Champions League spot following a 5-2 win against Palace last weekend.

Aston Villa, in seventh, are level on points with Chelsea and will host high-flying Newcastle on Saturday in a big game in the race for Champions League.

Unai Emery's side were knocked out of the competition by Paris St-Germain this week but will hope to return to Europe through a top-five finish in the league.

Bournemouth also enjoyed a good week as a 1-0 win against Fulham helped them move up to eighth. But the Cherries are level on 48 points with Fulham and Brighton.

Brentford, who held Arsenal 1-1, and Palace are 11th and 12th, tied on 43 points.