Permutations for the Premier League, EFL and National League this weekend – 2nd May 2025

We take a look at the permutations for the Premier League, EFL and National League this weekend as we enter the final rounds of the season.

There is still so much that needs confirming, who will be crowned champions, secure promotion, be in the playoffs, and relegated?

Who could go up and who could do down? Take a look below at all the potential ups and downs in the top five divisions of English football…

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Liverpool won the Premier League on the 27th of April with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham.

Top five teams qualify for the league phase. England’s fifth spot was secured due to high UEFA coefficients, confirmed by Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid on April 8th. Champions League and Europa League winners also qualify, regardless of league position.

Sixth-placed team and FA Cup winners qualify. If FA Cup winners are in the Champions League, the Europa spot goes to the next league team. Chelsea could qualify by winning the Conference League if not in the Champions League.

Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup win ensures at least a play-off spot. If they qualify for Europe via league position, the spot reverts to the league.

Southampton (relegated on April 6th after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham), Leicester City (April 20th, 1-0 loss to Liverpool), and Ipswich Town (April 26th, 3-0 loss to Newcastle) are relegated to the Championship. Southampton’s relegation was the earliest in Premier League history by games played.

Friday 2nd May 2025
8pm Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday 3rd May 2025
5.30pm Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
12.30pm Aston Villa v Fulham
3pm Everton v Ipswich Town
3pm Leicester City v Southampton

Sunday 4th May 2025
2pm Brentford v Manchester United
2pm Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
4.30pm Chelsea v Liverpool
2pm West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

Monday 5th May 2025
8pm Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest

CHAMPIONSHIP:

Leeds United and Burnley both sealed automatic promotion to the Premier League on the 21st of April when the Clarets beat Sheffield United 2-1.

Both are level on points (97) going into the final day of the season, with Leeds ahead on goal difference.

Sheffield United, Sunderland and two other teams (two from Bristol City, Coventry, Millwall, Blackburn and Middlesbrough) will contest the play-offs for the third promotion place.

• Bristol City guaranteed play-off place with win

• Coventry guaranteed play-off place if they win and Millwall don’t better result by 5+ goals

• Millwall guaranteed play-off place if they win and Coventry or Bristol City fail to win

• Blackburn guaranteed play-offs if they win and two of Bristol City/Coventry/Millwall fail to win

• Middlesbrough will make play-offs with win if Bristol City lose, Millwall/Blackburn fail to win

The bottom three teams will be relegated to League One. Cardiff were already relegated, confirmed on the 26th of April by a goalless draw with West Brom, and Plymouth look all but down because of their goal difference. The final spot is between Hull, Luton, Preston, Derby and Stoke.

• Hull will be relegated if they lose but guaranteed survival if they win

• Luton relegated if they lose and Hull avoid defeat but guaranteed survival by winning

• Preston relegated if they lose and Hull and Luton avoid defeat (unless Derby lose heavily)

• Derby relegated if they lose, Preston and Luton avoid defeat and Hull win. Will stay up with win

• Stoke relegated if they lose, Preston avoid loss and Luton and Hull win. Will stay up with draw

Saturday 3rd May 2025
12.30pm Bristol City v Preston North End
12.30pm Burnley v Millwall
12.30pm Coventry City v Middlesbrough
12.30pm Derby County v Stoke City
12.30pm Norwich City v Cardiff City
12.30pm Plymouth Argyle v Leeds United
12.30pm Portsmouth v Hull City
12.30pm Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers
12.30pm Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers
12.30pm Swansea City v Oxford United
12.30pm Watford v Sheffield Wednesday
12.30pm West Bromwich Albion v Luton Town

LEAGUE ONE:

Birmingham won promotion with a 2-1 win at Peterborough on the 8th of April, and then sealed the title without kicking a ball four days later as Wrexham drew 0-0 at Wigan.

Wrexham were the second team winning automatic promotion on the 26th of April when they beat Charlton 3-0.

Stockport, Wycombe and Charlton are in the playoffs, with either Leyton Orient or Reading, with Orient having a superior goal difference meaning they just need to match Reading’s result on the final day.

• Leyton Orient guaranteed play-off place if Reading fail to better their result

• Reading guaranteed play-off place if they better Leyton Orient’s result

Shrewsbury Town were the first team to be relegated to League Two following Burton’s 0-0 draw with Exeter on the 18th of April, Cambridge United joined them on the 26th of April after losing 2-1 at Burton, while Burton then sent both Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town down with a 1-1 draw against Wigan on the 29th April.

Saturday 3rd May 2025
3pm Blackpool v Bristol Rovers
3pm Bolton Wanderers v Stevenage
3pm Cambridge United v Birmingham City
3pm Charlton Athletic v Burton Albion
3pm Huddersfield Town v Leyton Orient
3pm Lincoln City v Wrexham
3pm Mansfield Town v Exeter City
3pm Northampton Town v Wigan Athletic
3pm Reading v Barnsley
3pm Rotherham United v Peterborough United
3pm Shrewsbury Town v Crawley Town
3pm Wycombe Wanderers v Stockport County

LEAGUE TWO:

Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale have already sealed automatic promotion to League One on the 26th of April, as Donny won 2-1 against Bradford and Vale won 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon. Doncaster hold a one-point lead going into the final game of the season with both sides battling to claim the title.

• Doncaster champions if they win. A point will be enough if Port Vale fail to win

• Port Vale champions if they win and Doncaster fail to win. Draw enough if Doncaster lose by 3+

Just one more automatic promotion place is up for grabs, with the next four teams entering the playoffs. Bradford, Walsall and Notts County are assured of at least a playoff place, while the final two play-off spots are between AFC Wimbledon, Salford, Grimsby, Chesterfield and Colchester.

• Bradford promoted if they win. Point will be enough if Walsall fail to win

• Walsall promoted if they win and Bradford fail to win. Point enough if Bradford/Notts Co lose

• Notts County promoted if they win, Bradford lose and Walsall fail to win

• AFC Wimbledon guaranteed play-offs if they avoid defeat

• Salford guaranteed play-offs if they win

• Grimsby guaranteed play-offs if they win

• Chesterfield guaranteed play-offs if they win and Salford fail to win

• Colchester in play-offs if they win, Salford lose and Grimsby and Chesterfield fail to win

Relegation places are all confirmed. Morecambe went down on the 21st of April as they lost 3-1 to Salford, while Carlisle saw their stay in the EFL was ended on the 26th of April as they lost 3-2 at Cheltenham.

Saturday 3rd May 2025
3pm Accrington Stanley v Chesterfield
3pm Bradford City v Fleetwood Town
3pm Bromley v Cheltenham Town
3pm Carlisle United v Salford City
3pm Colchester United v Barrow
3pm Crewe Alexandra v Walsall
3pm Grimsby Town v AFC Wimbledon
3pm Morecambe v Harrogate Town
3pm Newport County v Tranmere Rovers
3pm Notts County v Doncaster Rovers
3pm Port Vale v Gillingham
3pm Swindon Town v Milton Keynes Dons

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

Barnet won the title and automatic promotion with a 4-0 victory over Aldershot on April 26th. York City, Forest Green Rovers, Rochdale, Oldham, Halifax, and either Southend or Gateshead (decided on the final day) will compete in the play-offs for the second promotion spot.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to National League North or South, replaced by those divisions’ champions and play-off winners.

Ebbsfleet United and AFC Fylde were relegated on March 22nd and April 18th, respectively, with Maidenhead, Wealdstone, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Braintree vying to avoid the final two relegation spots.

Monday 5th May 2025
3pm AFC Fylde v Barnet
3pm Aldershot Town v Yeovil Town
3pm Altrincham v Tamworth
3pm Braintree Town v Rochdale
3pm Eastleigh v York City
3pm Gateshead v Southend United
3pm Hartlepool United v Forest Green Rovers
3pm Maidenhead United v Boston United
3pm Oldham Athletic v Ebbsfleet United
3pm Solihull Moors v Dagenham & Redbridge
3pm Sutton United v Woking
3pm Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town