London – Chelsea tour to the USA next week could be jeopardised by a Champions League play-off against Arsenal.
If both clubs finish on identical points, goal difference and goals scored in Sunday’s final games, a one-off match will determine who finishes third in the Premier League.
The winners will go into the Champions League group stages, while the losers will face a two-legged qualifier.
Arsenal have 70 points, with a goal difference of 34 and 71 goals scored. Chelsea have 72 points, a goal difference of 35 and 73 scored.
For a play-off to occur, Chelsea must draw with Everton and Arsenal need to beat Newcastle by a single goal while scoring two more than Chelsea.
For instance, if Chelsea draw 0-0 and Arsenal win 2-1. Or if Chelsea draw 1-1 and Arsenal win 3-2, and so on.
Premier League chiefs have decided to stage any play-off quickly, possibly as early as next week, at a neutral London ground.
But Chelsea are due to face Manchester City twice, in St Louis next Thursday and in New York two days later.
Tickets were printed for a title play-off, which never took place, in 1996 when Manchester United and Newcastle were locked in a battle for top spot. – Daily Mail