Due to the bank holiday, it’s a slightly later Power Rankings but we’ve still got plenty to go through as we head toward the final weekend of the EFL proper.

So, let’s see which lucky teams made it into the top ten this time...

=9th, Sheffield United

Last 5: WWLWW

The Blades booked their place in next season’s Premier League with a 2-0 win at home to Bramall Lane and didn’t take their eye off the ball last weekend either when they put four goals past Preston North End.

It would be easy for Paul Heckingbottom’s team to relax until the end of the season with second place secured and the team deserves credit for continuing their good form. 

Sheffield United now have just two games left in the Championship against Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City – both away from home.

=9th, Bournemouth

Last 5: WWLWW

Seven of Bournemouth’s 11 Premier League wins this season were earned from February to April with Gary O’Neil’s team showing that they’re no pushovers.

The 4-1 win at home to Leeds United at the weekend was an emphatic demonstration of why they deserve to stay up this season. And with that win, they’re essentially home and dry.

Remarkably, when the Cherries host Chelsea on Saturday there’s a chance that they could also leapfrog them in the process. Who would have guessed that back in August?

=6th, Salford City

Last 5: WLWWW

The Ammies are so close to booking a play-off place and their recent form and late heroics are a big part of the reason for that.

Salford have needed late drama in their last two wins and have seemed to enjoy pouring suffering on their own fans. Against Walsall they conceded a 95th-minute equaliser before scoring a 97th winner and last weekend they were 2-1 again until the 85th minute and an 88th-minute winner. It’s not been for the faint of heart.

Neil Wood will be hoping his team give him a far more comfortable afternoon in their last league game of the season at home to Gillingham.

=6th, Sheffield Wednesday

Last 5: WLWWW

The Owls could finish the season with 96 points but it’s not enough to secure an automatic promotion place with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town both booking their Championship places already.

Sheffield Wednesday have picked up form in recent weeks but that recent run of six consecutive games without a win has cost them.

However, a play-off place against whoever finishes sixth in League One is guaranteed. Interestingly enough, Wednesday play the sixth-placed team this weekend in the final game of the regular season. Could they ruin Derby’s play-off hopes or will it be a dress rehearsal?

📈Yet to lose a game in which they have led (t4t; 2022/23):

PL: Arsenal
Ch: ❌
L1: Barnsley, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wed.
L2: Gillingham, Leyton Orient#AFC #BarnsleyFC #Pompey #swfc #Gills #LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/KjrzDqEbSu

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 3, 2023

=6th, Newcastle United

Last 5: WLWWW

Eddie Howe’s team are close to officially guaranteeing Champions League football for what would be a big boost for the Newcastle United project and having form like winning eight of your last nine games is generally the way to go about it.

The Magpies now just have five games left to play and it’s more likely that they’ll be competing with Manchester United to decide who finishes third. The next game won’t be easy though as they welcome current league leaders, Arsenal.

5th, Swansea City

Last 5: WWWWD

If only this unbeaten run had started sooner for the Swans! Russell Martin’s team have now gone eight games without suffering defeat with six wins and two draws during that spell.

Unfortunately, a play-off place is no longer on the table but Swansea can now start to make preparations for improvement next campaign.

There’s just one game left to play before that at West Bromwich Albion (who are still in the hunt for a top-six place) visit the Swansea.com Stadium.

4th, Manchester City

Last 5: WDWWW

Manchester City aren’t technically in first place yet but it certainly feels like they are already. The Blues have really taken it to another level in the back half of the season – even more so than normal.

In their last 18 games in all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s team have won 15 and drawn three – a freakish run of form that no one can match, certainly not Arsenal.

Indeed, a win against West Ham United tonight at the Etihad Stadium will see City back on top once again and likely to stay there.

📊Yet to lose a game in 2023 (t4t):

🏡 At home:
▪️ Man Utd
▪️ Man City
▪️ Liverpool
▪️ Ipswich
▪️ Sheffield Wed.
▪️ Stockport

🚌 Away:
▪️ Burnley
▪️ Luton#MUFC #ManCity #LFC #itfc #swfc #StockportCounty #UTC #COYH pic.twitter.com/lVCSjUVqCn

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 3, 2023

=3rd, Liverpool

Last 5: DWWWW

The Reds have picked themselves up after a poor season and suddenly gone quite the run. While a Champions League place is very unlikely, many Liverpool fans would have gladly taken fifth in the table a few months ago.

Jürgen Klopp’s team showed they did still have the ability to inexplicably concede goals – much as they did against Tottenham Hotspur when they threw away a three-goal lead before striking late – but they’re still dangerous going forward.

However, booking fifth place won’t be easy with games against Fulham, Brentford, and Aston Villa still to play starting with the Cottagers this weekend.

=1st, Ipswich Town

Last 5: WWWWW

Our top two have one big thing in common – they’re playing in the Championship next season and will be duking it out this weekend for who finishes first.

Let’s begin with the Tractor Boys. Kieran McKenna’s team have the most goal scores, the fewest conceded, and a goal difference of +66 – double that of leaders Plymouth.

Ipswich have also won 13 of their last 14 games and in that time scored 39 goals and conceded just two. Now all they have to do is extend that winning run one game further by defeating Fleetwood Town and hope that Argyle slip up to be crowned champions.

➕ Best goal differences in a season (#EFL; fr. 99/00):

➕67: Reading 05/06
➕66: 🔝IPSWICH 22/23🔝
➕65: Notts County 09/10
➕63: Fulham 21/22
➕60: Wigan 17/18

Congratulations @IpswichTown fans!! 🥳🎉#itfc pic.twitter.com/RDeuIB4ovM

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 1, 2023

=1st, Plymouth Argyle

Last 5: WWWWW

Steven Schumacher’s team have won exactly two-thirds of their league games this season which is why they’re top of the table despite not having quite the goal record of Ipswich. Points win prizes, as the cliche goes.

The Plymouth boss deserves credit for picking his team up from that humbling against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Trophy and going on to build momentum for the final run of the season.

All Argyle need to do now is win away to Port Vale on Sunday to be able to go into the Championship as deserved League One winners and champions of the third tier for the fifth time in their history.

🥇Most league wins in 22/23 (top four tiers):

3⃣0⃣: Plymouth
2⃣8⃣: Burnley, Ipswich
2⃣7⃣: Sheffield Utd, Sheffield Wed.
2⃣6⃣: Barnsley, Leyton Orient

Congratulations @Argyle fans!! 🥳🎉#pafc pic.twitter.com/WJxcBCiDD1

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 1, 2023