LONDON, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The race to ensure the final Champions League places in the Premier League remains open after the 36th round of matches at the weekend.

Arsenal could have confirmed a top-five finish with a win away to Liverpool, but drew 2-2, although Mikel Arteta will be content after seeing his side fight back from 2-0 down after conceding quick-fire goals to Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz midway through the first half.

Gabriel Martinelli pulled a goal back for Arsenal in the 47th minute, and Mikel Merino leveled with 20 minutes left to play, before being sent off for two yellow cards 11 minutes from time.

Four other teams still have top-five hopes with two games left to play.

Newcastle United beat Chelsea 2-0 at St James' Park to move up to third above Manchester City.

The home side got off to a flying start when Sandro Tonali popped up at the far post to open the scoring after just two minutes.

Things got better for Newcastle when Chelsea were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes, as striker Nicolas Jackson was dismissed for using his elbow on Sven Botman.

Chelsea reacted well with a player less, and Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez both forced Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope into good saves, but the game was decided in the last minute when Bruno Guimaraes' shot took a deflection to loop into the net.

Nottingham Forest had the chance to move above Chelsea, but was held to a surprise 2-2 draw at home to already-relegated Leicester City.

Conor Cody put Leicester ahead before Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood looked to have given Forest three vital points, only for Facundo Buonanotte to stun the home side with nine minutes left to play.

Europa League finalists Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur made it clear where their focus lies for the rest of the season as both slipped to home defeats.

United lost 2-0 at home to West Ham United due to goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen, while goals from Eberechi Eze either side of half-time saw Crystal Palace win at Spurs.

Saturday's big surprise was a 0-0 draw between Southampton and Manchester City, which allowed Southampton to avoid the ignominy of going down with the joint worst points total in Premier League history, while complicating City's qualification for next season's Champions League as they slipped to fourth.

Ollie Watkins kept Aston Villa's Champions League hopes alive with the only goal in a 1-0 win away to Bournemouth, while Brentford and Brighton remain with a chance of playing in Europe next season after wins away to Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. ■