Newcastle United could be in the Champions League by Saturday tea time if Aston Villa cause an upset at Anfield against Liverpool.
If not, three points for Newcastle on Monday night will be enough to seal a place in Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2003. The only scenario that could now take the Champions League shoot-out to the final day would be for Liverpool to beat Aston Villa, then Newcastle to lose or draw to the Foxes.
But the bookies have made Newcastle the firm favourites to finish third now after their resounding 4-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Both Paddy Power and 888.sport have handed Newcastle odds of 1/25 to make the Champions League while Man United have odds of 1/5 with a clutch of bookies.
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Liverpool are now very much the outsiders to snatch a Champions League place with odds of 9/4 with Coral and other bookmakers. Brighton's defeat sees them at 100/1 long shots. But Newcastle know no matter what happens on Merseyside they will clinch their spot with three points on Monday.
A sell out crowd will be waiting to roar them on against Leicester no matter what happens over the weekend. And should Liverpool lose, the game would be very a much a party atmosphere.
"The Champions League is so close, but so far away as well," Howe said at full-time. "We will enjoy tonight but we are focused on our next match.
"We were just pleased with the performance, to beat a side of their quality. We are not looking too far ahead. When it's done, I'll talk about it for fun if you want."
