Unlikely English candidates dueling for a Champions League ticket

The battle for a place in the Champions League is the focus of attention in the final two months of the Premier League season, with the title race and relegation battle seemingly a foregone conclusion.

Liverpool is storming clear with a 12-point lead at the top, while at the bottom, Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton look set for an immediate return to the Championship.

A strong season by English sides in European competitions means it is almost certain that a top-five finish will secure a place in next season's Champions League.