Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton on Wednesday to climb into sixth place in the Premier League with one game left.
Cole Palmer put them in front when he headed his 22nd league goal of the season in the 34th minute.
Christopher Nkunku’s 64th minute strike put Chelsea further ahead before Blues defender Reece James was sent off for kicking Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
Danny Welbeck reduced the deficit in stoppage-time, but Chelsea held on to secure a fourth consecutive league victory for the first time since October 2022.
With Newcastle losing 3-2 at Manchester United in Wednesday’s other game, Chelsea moved above the Magpies.
The Blues will be guaranteed a place in next season’s Europa League if they avoid defeat against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, or if seventh-placed Newcastle fail to win at Brentford.
Chelsea could even finish fifth if they beat Bournemouth and Tottenham lose at Sheffield United.
It is an impressive recovery masterminded by Pochettino, who has faced criticism throughout his troubled first season in charge.
Elsewhere, Manchester United kept alive their hopes of salvaging a dismal season by qualifying for Europe as Amad Diallo’s rocket inspired a 3-2 win against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Erik ten Hag’s side are battling to secure a seventh place finish in the Premier League, which could secure a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
United will qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.
But if City triumph at Wembley then seventh will be enough for a Conference League spot.
And eighth-placed United are still in the hunt for that place after beating Newcastle to move level on points with the seventh-placed Magpies.
Goals from Kobbie Mainoo, Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford gave United only their third win in nine league games.
However, United’s goal difference is vastly inferior to Newcastle’s, meaning they must better the Magpies’ result in the last game of the season.
United travel to Brighton on Sunday, while Newcastle head to Brentford.
Newcastle’s defeat means fifth-placed Tottenham are guaranteed to be in the Europa League next season.