How Liverpool & Bournemouth can both qualify for the Champions League

As a result of winning the Europa League on May 20, Aston Villa secured a spot in next season's Champions League. However, Unai Emery's side already earned a place in Europe's top club competition as a result of their Premier League performances this season.

This has opened the door for BOTH Liverpool and Bournemouth to finish inside the Champions League spots, but only if Aston Villa LOSE their final game of the season, an away trip to Man City.

Above is the current Premier League table from fourth to seventh, with Liverpool, Bournemouth and Brighton all still in with a chance of getting into next season's Champions League.

As noted, for this to even occur, Aston Villa had to win the Europa League this season, which they did on Wednesday evening. They also need to lose to Man City on the final day of the season, with Pep Guardiola's side favourites to win.

That would leave Aston Villa on 62 points for the season, with their goal difference no higher than five. A loss for Emery's side opens the door for Liverpool to finish in fourth, should they beat Brentford.

The Reds face Brentford at Anfield on the final day of the season, and their superior goal difference means that if they win and Aston Villa lose, they will overtake the Midlands outfit and finish inside the top four.

A loss for Villa and a win for Liverpool opens up a rather interesting prospect...

Villa finishing fifth means they use their Europa League-winner Champions League place, so the Premier League’s extra fifth-place EPS slot drops to sixth. Villa finishing fourth means fifth still gets the EPS, while Villa’s Europa League-winner place is rebalanced by UEFA, not passed down England’s table.

If Liverpool and Man City both do Bournemouth a favour, then they could finish with a spot inside the Champions League next season, but they also have to get a result themselves.

Bournemouth are just three points ahead of seventh-placed Brighton, so Andoni Iraola's side need just a draw to secure themselves sixth position in the Premier League.

A loss against Nottingham Forest could be enough for them to still finish in sixth, but only if Brighton also fail to win against Man United at the AMEX this weekend.

Ladbrokes has an accumulator, which you can add to your bet slip below, on the aforementioned conditions being met for both Liverpool and Bournemouth to join Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Aston Villa in the Champions League next season.

This wouldn't be the first time that England had had six clubs in the Champions League, with Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea all in this season's competition.

The accumulator includes a loss for Villa, a win at home for Liverpool, and Bournemouth either beating or drawing with Nottingham Forest, with all games taking place at the same time on Sunday.

Ladbrokes has the odds of this happening at just over 2/1. With an assumed probability of 33%, the bookies clearly think there's a decent shot at six English teams playing in Europe's top club competition next season.

View the latest football odds here.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.