Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side will have to “fight until the end” in the race to secure a Champions League spot after slipping up on Saturday.
City could have taken a huge step towards sealing a top-five spot, but drew 0-0 at rock bottom Southampton.
They are now only two points above Newcastle and Chelsea – who meet on Sunday – plus Aston Villa, who beat Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Seventh-placed Nottingham Forest, who play relegated Leicester on Sunday, are four points behind City.
After the Saints draw, Guardiola said his side had three cup finals left – including next weekend’s actual FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.
“I didn’t expect differently from a month ago, that it’s a fight until the end,” he said.
City could find themselves outside the Champions League places before they play in the league again (against Bournemouth on Tuesday, 20 May) – because most of their rivals will have played once or twice before then.
Only champions Liverpool have sealed a Champions League place so far but second-placed Arsenal, who visit Anfield on Sunday, will hope to soon join them.
Saturday’s results meant Aston Villa guaranteed European football next season and manager Unai Emery said: “[The Champions League] is the best competition in the world. [To qualify] through the Premier League, it’s very difficult with lots of teams competing very well and they have more points than us.
“We are going to fight for it. First objective clearly is to qualify for Europe again and we’ve achieved that today.”
