Newcastle United will be in the Champions League if they beat Leicester City back here at St James' Park on Monday night - although it could be game over for Liverpool if they lose to Aston Villa on Saturday.
And after they brushed aside Brighton & Hove Albion you couldn't begrudge them a place at Europe's top table with Eddie Howe's team on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. In a season of big highlights this will be up there with the best of them after the talented South Coast side were rolled over - and in true style.
READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Brighton as it happened
The first glimpse of goal for Newcastle came with five minutes played when Alexander Isak tried his luck from range but his shot curled wide of the target. Moments later Miguel Almiron's effort struck the feet of Jan Paul van Hecke and went out for a corner but Newcastle did not make the most of it.
Things started to hot up for Newcastle after testing Brighton keeper Jason Steele twice but after Joe Willock had rolled the ball to Alexander Isak, Albion hacked clear with Lewis Dunk clearing from close to the line. Seconds later the Magpies won a free-kick 25 yards from goal with Fabian Schar's dipping effort gathered by Steele.
Isak back-heeled the ball on the right-hand side for Miguel Almiron but he blazed over, with Joelinton screaming for it in the box on 13 minutes. Brighton's first goal attempt arrived on 16 minutes when Danny Welbeck had a go from long range but it was easy for Nick Pope.
United went down to 10 men briefly after Fabian Schar bloodied his nose on the 20-minute mark but he was patched up by club doctor Paul Catterson quickly and made his way back on to the field. Isak slipped in Joelinton on 22 minutes but his shot was deflected wide for a corner kick.
The breakthrough would arrive seconds later after Kieran Trippier whipped in a corner from the left-hand side with Deniz Undav climbing high but then looping it over his own goalkeeper to hand Newcastle a deserved lead. After dominating the first quarter, it felt inevitable for Newcastle but there was still work to do.
On 29 minutes, Dunk and Callum Wilson clashed in the box with Merseyside referee Rob Jones consulted by VAR over a potential penalty but the officials decided against it. Joelinton won another corner on 33 minutes with Trippier trotting over to take it.
The corner resulted in Dan Burn taking a ball down and sending it wide via a deflection against his old club before Brighton cleared their lines again. In an incident-packed two minutes of stoppage time, Newcastle won another free-kick, Schar was booked for a shove on Billy Gilmour and the Magpies extended the lead.
Once more, another superb set-play from Trippier was floated into the box and Burn this time connected perfectly to power home a header beyond Steele. It was a moment that sent Newcastle in 2-0 up at the break with the hope of more goals to come shooting towards Gallowgate after 11 first half goal attempts.
Just four minutes into the second half Almiron forced another save out of Steele before Wilson headed the ball over the bar and on to the top of the net. Yet the pattern of the game changed significantly just a minute later.
Gilmour split the Newcastle defence before Undav ran through to beat Pope and reduce arrears. After a quick VAR check for offside, Brighton celebrated and were back in the match at 2-1 on 51 minutes. The Magpies struck back with an attack from Almiron who crossed for Wilson but it went wide.
Brighton then changed things up with Roberto De Zerbi making a treble change as World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson came on for Facundo Buonanotte, Welbeck and Gilmour with 35 minutes left. The Magpies were forced into a change on the hour mark when Joe Willock went off in pain with an injury and was replaced by Elliot Anderson.
With 65 minutes gone, Almiron swung the ball in again for Isak but Steele made a fine save to keep his team in it. Sub Enciso headed wide three minutes later in a nervous moment for United after Moises Caicedo's cross.
Albion made another change when Pascal Gross went off for Odeluga Offiah with 20 minutes remaining of a pulsating affair on Tyneside. Another injury concern saw Joelinton require treatment when the Brazilian went down with a knock on 76 minutes but he was thrown back into the battle.
Isak slid the ball to Bruno after a bursting run with 10 minutes to go but he directed his effort over the bar. Brighton made another change when Cameron Peupion replaced
Things became heated when Enisco shoved his hand in the face of Almiron while the playmaker was on the floor. Almiron was furious with the Brighton player and ref Jones had to calm things down with the Toon star held back by his team-mates.
There were nerves as the game moved towards eight minutes stoppage time but they were eased significantly when Almiron powered down the right-hand side before slipping in Wilson who ran on and slotted past Steele to make it 3-1 in the 89th minute. But a minute later the victory was confirmed as Wilson turned provider.
Wilson ran in behind before turning Dunk with some excellent hold-up play before rolling it to Bruno. The Brazil international slammed home to extend the lead to 4-1 and spark wild scenes on the bench.
Howe gave his subs a run out for the closing stages as Allan Saint-Maximin, Anthony Gordon, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett all got minutes in two batches of changes. Howe may not have much choice but to rotate again in the final two matches with injuries racking up, but with Newcastle so close to the Champions League it may not matter.
Newcastle are nearly there. In fact they are so close, they can almost reach out and touch it.
Attendance: 52, 122
Referee: Rob Jones (Merseyside)
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