By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) -Newcastle United beat Chelsea and Nottingham Forest dropped points again as a gripping battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League took more twists and turns on Sunday.

It's crunch time in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification, as today's English Premier League clash between fourth-placed Newcastle and fifth-placed Chelsea is likely to have a major impact on who secures a spot in European football's top-tier tournament next season.

Advantage Newcastle in the race for the Champions League. A 2-0 win against Premier League top-five rival Chelsea on Sunday moved Newcastle closer to a return to European club soccer’s top competition next season.