Newcastle United must regroup and bounce back in their upcoming two fixtures ahead of the international break in order to remain in the running for a top-four finish. Eddie Howe's side host Wolves on Sunday, before travelling to face Nottingham Forest in a televised encounter before a two-week break.
The Magpies have lost their last three matches in all competitions, including the agony of a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United last month. However, Howe's side still hold games in hand on both Liverpool and Tottenham, and would return to fourth spot with victories in both matches.
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher reviewed the top-four race following the weekend's action, which saw Liverpool thrash Manchester United at Anfield. Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast on Sunday, here is how the pair rated each side's chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
READ MORE: Newcastle legend questions FFP purpose as Gary Neville makes Magpies transfer admission
GN: Liverpool are going to have a right good go at getting into the top four. They're actually going to have a big impact on the title race by playing City and Arsenal in the next few weeks. There is going to be a swing there somehow.
On Tottenham and Newcastle, I said a few weeks ago that I didn't think Newcastle were playing well enough. They were stumbling in games, not getting goals, and I though they would struggle getting into the top four
But I never expected them to get the top four at the start of the season, so I don't feel that's a disappointment or a criticism. If they finish fifth, that would be an unbelievable thing for Eddie Howe and Newcastle in terms of how the ownership have been quite measured since they've come in.
For Tottenham, they haven't got the manager on the side of the pitch at this moment in time. That does have an impact, and I think that looking at Tottenham, they could still finish in the top four. Conte just has a way of getting over the line, but they don't look as happy as a bunch as they were before.
Looking at Liverpool...I think it'll be either Liverpool or Tottenham. Liverpool have got City, Arsenal, Chelsea in three of the next four, so there's still some games to come after this. Say they lose two of those and draw one, they could be well down there.
It's still really in the mix, there's quite a long way to go. But this will give Liverpool real confidence of getting fourth place, I don't think Newcastle will do it, I think Tottenham are the only other one with Conte's know-how and experience. He's been around the block enough times to still get in there, he's the one that's the most dangerous for me.
JC: That's the big thing that stands out [Newcastle's lack of goals], I wouldn't say it's the performances. I thought they performed well against Liverpool with 10 men, I thought they performed well in the Carabao Cup final. Even yesterday at Man City, some of the chances that they missed. They really went at City.
I've probably got a little bit more confidence in them than Gary, in that their actual performances are very good. But they're just not scoring goals right now, Callum Wilson since the World Cup has not been the same. Isak did really well when he came on in the Carabao Cup final, but when you think about how hot they were at the start of the season, someone like Almiron, it was always going to be difficult to keep that ratio up of scoring of scoring a goal every couple of games it felt like.
But their actual performances, I'm still quite impressed with. With Tottenham, you just feel that anything could blow up at any time in terms of a performance or a result. Something could come out of the blue, and I just think there's always a little bit of negativity around the club.
They're not quite sure with the manager, is he staying? The cup defeat in midweek...I don't know. I think there's probably a better feeling around Liverpool even though Tottenham this season have probably performed better on a lot of occasions.
I still favour Tottenham, because I've looked right at the fixture list and they've got a lot more favourable fixtures than Liverpool do. But if Liverpool can win their next game away at Bournemouth, they don't play the following week because Fulham are in the FA Cup, if they can get another three points and get to the international break, Thiago and maybe Luis Diaz will be back.
If they can get through that week, maybe just four or five points as long as they don't lose the three or lose two and draw one. If they could pick maybe four or five points up, I think they're in a great position then.
READ NEXT
Simon Jordan says 'preposterous' Newcastle takeover will never have complete transparency
Jamie Carragher fires Brighton warning to Newcastle and top four hopefuls
Gary Neville admits Newcastle fear and 'sensible' target amid Liverpool and Tottenham warning
Carragher namechecks Newcastle in Liverpool 'worry' and explains Magpies hope despite FFP 'handcuff'
Stadium mastermind gives Newcastle expansion hope after previous 60,000-seater and hotel plan
