The teams that finish in the Premier League's top four automatically qualify for the following season's Champions League. Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea currently occupy those spots.

But just five points separate fourth-placed Chelsea and Bournemouth in 10th, meaning there is a seven-team race on for that fourth spot.

Here's where it gets slightly more complicated.

As things stand, finishing in the top four in the Premier League is the only official way to qualify for the Champions League via a team's domestic position.

But, it looks increasingly likely that England will be granted an additional Champions League spot thanks to its co-efficient ranking. That means the team that finishes in fifth would also earn a Champions League place.

That team is currently Manchester City. But there are just four points between City and 10th-placed Bournemouth - and every team in the top half will fancy their chances of grabbing that extra spot.

Image source, BBC Sport

Wolves' 2-1 win against Southampton before the international break was a bitter blow to the bottom three of Ipswich, Leicester and the Saints.

Vitor Pereira's side are the only realistic candidates to be dragged into a relegation battle but that win took them nine points clear of safety.

With 27 points left to play for, Wolves could secure their Premier League status by collecting 10 points from their next four matches, provided Leicester and Ipswich both lose their next three matches.

Southampton require a minor miracle to stay up, given they are 17 points adrift with just 27 points left to play for. Instead,they are fighting to avoid earning the tag of the worst Premier League side ever.

Ivan Juric's side need three points in the next nine matches to pass the unwanted mark of 11 set by Derby 17 years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal beat Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in their game in hand over Liverpool before the international break.

That victory reduced Liverpool's lead at the top of the table from 15 points to 12 - but in terms of when Arne Slot's side can win the title, it has made little difference.

The earliest date Liverpool could win their 20th league title is 13 April, when they play West Ham at Anfield.

For that scenario to play out, Arsenal need to lose their next two matches against Fulham and Everton, with Liverpool beating Everton and Fulham in that time.

That would leave Arsenal 18 points behind Liverpool with 21 points left to play for.

A Brentford victory against Arsenal on 12 April would leave the Gunners 18 points behind with 18 points left to play for, leaving Liverpool needing a single point against the Hammers on 13 April to claim the title.

Statisticians Opta give Arsenal just a 0.8% chance of winning the title, with Liverpool given 99.2% based on their position and remaining fixtures.

Liverpool are currently on 70 points - and nearest challengers Arsenal can only reach a maximum of 85 if they win their remaining nine matches.

The Reds therefore require 16 points from a possible 27 to clinch their second Premier League title, and record-equalling 20th overall in English football.

Fifteen points could also be enough given Liverpool's goal difference is vastly superior to Arsenal's (currently +42 to +29).

In fact, given their goal difference supremacy, Slot's side might only need four wins - as long as one of those is against the Gunners - to secure the title.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

The 1958 Manchester United fans group has confirmed its protest plans ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

They have called for a post-match 'sit-in' as they try to exert more pressure on the Glazer family.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken of how uncomfortable he feels at being the brunt of so much anger, even suggesting he might quit the club if it became too much.

Spokesman Steve Crompton made his point: "The message from the club is clear.

"No matter how long you have followed United home and away. No matter how loyal you have been. If you don’t spend enough money. They want us out. They don’t care.

"On Sunday we stay in our seats. That seat is our seat. They won’t force us out.”

Image source, Getty Images

If you needed any reminding, here's how the Premier League table looks like as we enter the final two months of the season.

Liverpool are sitting pretty at the top with nine games to go and a 12-point lead to protect but the race for Europe looks as tight as ever with only five points separating fourth-placed Chelsea and Bournemouth in 10th.

Southampton sit bottom with only nine points while Ipswich Town and Leicester City have an uphill battle to overturn a nine-point gap to 17th-placed Wolves and secure safety.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Aston Villa are having a season to remember at first team level and now their youngsters have got in on the act.

Villa's Under-18 side reached the FA Youth Cup final last night with a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United.

Trai-Varn Mulley's early effort was cancelled out by James Scanlon for the visitors before the break.

Villa skipper Aidan Borland failed to convert a penalty in the second half but it was the hosts who held their nerve at the end against a United side including striker Chido Obi, who was selected for the game in preference to involvement in tonight's Premier League encounter at Nottingham Forest.

Image source, BBC Sport

After some totting up, we are expecting at least 10 Premier League media conferences today.

We will be hearing from Liverpoool manager Arne Slot after 09.00 BST, followed by Newcastle's Eddie Howe later this morning.

At lunchtime, we are scheduled to bring you coverage of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to the press.

Then through the afternoon, we expect to bring you news from Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Brentford, Everton, Aston Villa and Brighton. Phew.

Finally tonight, there will be live coverage on the BBC Sport website of Tuesday's three Premier League matches.

BBC iPlayer

You can watch all the highlights from nine of the midweek Premier League games, including the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, on Match of the Day.

Gary Lineker will be joined by BBC Sport pundits as they look at what unfolded in the English top flight from 22:40 BST on Wednesday on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal look to close in on Premier League leaders Liverpool as they host Fulham at 19:45 BST tonight while Wolves welcome West Ham and Manchester United, 13th, make the trip to third-placed Nottingham Forest.

Wednesday will see six more fixtures with the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield the pick among the lot as Manchester City, EFL Cup winners Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also in action.

Matchweek 30 will then conclude with a London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham from 20:00 BST on Thursday.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will speak to the media at lunchtime ahead of his side's Premier League encounter with Leicester.

It offers the chance to update on Erling Haaland's ankle injury, which the club confirmed last night would keep him out for a period.

City are hoping Haaland plays again in the Premier League this season but it doesn't sound as though there is any hope of an immediate return.

The newspapers feature Erling Haaland heavily on their back pages today, following the news yesterday of the Manchester City striker's ankle injury.

He faces a race to be fit again before the end of the Premier League season, although City are confident that he will be fit for this summer's Club World Cup.

Image source, Mirror

Image source, Times

Manchester City

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will see a specialist after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday's FA Cup win against Bournemouth, with the club expecting him to play again this season.

The Norwegian was substituted in the 61st minute after scoring the equaliser as City went on to beat the Cherries 2-1 and reach the semi-finals.

The 24-year-old was later seen in a video on social media leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches and with his left ankle in a protective boot.

City said on Monday that they anticipate Haaland "will be fit to play a further part in the remainder of this season including this summer's Fifa Club World Cup".

The club explained that Haaland, who has scored 30 goals in 40 games this season, had tests on Monday before being referred to a specialist to understand "the full extent of the injury".

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he has told Bruno Fernandes he will not allow him to leave this summer.

Club captain Fernandes - who signed a contract extension until 2027 last August - has been United's star player this season.

Over the weekend reports emerged linking the 30-year-old with a move to Real Madrid.

"No, it's not going to happen," said Amorim, when asked about the rumours in his news conference before Tuesday's Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.

When asked how he could be so certain, the former Sporting coach added: "He's not going anywhere because I've already told him."

Image source, Getty Images

The Daily Mail splash on Arsenal on their back page today, with quotes from Mikel Arteta about a planned splurge on new players this summer.

They also prominently feature Bukayo Saka, following the news yesterday that he is fit to return after three months out with a hamstring injury.

Image source, Mail

Premier League returns after a 16-day break tonight, and so do some of the stars.

Here's a look at the players who could make their much-awaited return from injuries tonight.

Bukayo Saka - Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hinted winger Bukayo Saka is ready to start against Fulham tonight after three months out with injury. The England international has been sidelined since having surgery on a hamstring problem suffered in a win against Crystal Palace on 21 December.

Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro - Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim will have his defensive struggles eased with the return of Harry Maguire and Lenny Yoro. Maguire has missed four games for Manchester United with a calf injury while Yoro will be back after two matches. The United boss also confirmed yesterday that Kobbie Mainoo is "almost ready" and that Ayden Heaven's injury was not as serious as first feared.

Niclas Fullkrug - West Ham

Image source, Getty Images

Niclas Fullkrug is expected to return to the West Ham squad as they make the trip to face Wolves. The German forward suffered a hamstring injury in Graham Potter’s first match in charge of Hammers, to Aston Villa in the FA Cup and has been missing from action for about three months. Fullkrug has only made nine appearances and scored twice for West Ham in the league this season.

Nottingham Foreststriker Chris Wood could also return after picking up a knock during international duty with New Zealand while Leicester City defender Ricardo Pereira could be available for the Foxes' trip to Manchester City on Wednesday.

Before we get started with today's schedule, let's recap some of the major headlines from yesterday...

As always, we would love to hear from you about everything football, including today's news or tonight's Premier League fixtures.

Also, as it is the day that it is, get in touch with your favourite ever football April Fools jokes.

You can contact us using the usual details at the top of this post.

Welcome to Tuesday's football news live - we'll bring you all the build-up to tonight's Premier League matches, plus media conferences including hearing from Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Oh, and we have no April Fools jokes planned. Or do we???

No.