How 11 Premier League clubs could qualify for European football this season

There were still plenty of teams with their eyes on the European prize this season, but following Crystal Palace's FA Cup win, the Eagles' spot in the Europa League has now been confirmed - providing a bitter blow to the likes of Brentford, Fulham and Bournemouth.

While finishing in the top four of the Premier League is usually required to qualify for the Champions League, this season has seen an additional spot be given to the Premier League, meaning five English teams will be competing in Europe's top competition in the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool, who are already favourites to win the Premier League next season, are in the strongest position to qualify, along with Arsenal - who are currently odds-on to finish in the top four.

After an excellent run of form, Newcastle are also tipped by the bookies to hold on and finish fourth or higher, alongside champions Manchester City, who are looking to qualify for their 14th consecutive season of Champions League football.

Nottingham Forest, this season's surprise package, and Chelsea both sit among the favourites to finish inside the top six, with the former hoping to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years.

This season's Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa are also beginning to find some real form as they strive to maintain their place among Europe's elite. With Chelsea playing Forest on the final day, and Villa winning eight of their last nine, it really is going down to the wire.

The side that finishes just below the Champions League spots will qualify for the Europa League, UEFA's second-tier competition.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United both reached the final of the competition this season, and it was Spurs who came out on top, saving a miserable seaosn and ultimately qualifying them for the Champions League.

Newcastle, Villa, Man City, Chelsea and Forest could all still play in any of the three UEFA competitions, and will be desperate to avoid the Europa League in exchange for Champions League football.

The final chance for teams to claim European football comes in the form of the Conference League, which Chelsea are currently heavy favourites to win this year.

With the Premier League securing the aforementioned additional qualifying spot, the Conference League place will go to the club who finishes eighth if Chelsea win it this year and also finish seventh in the Premier League. If this doesn't happen, then eighth in the Premier League will get nothing.

One very specific set of events would have led to the Premier League's Conference League place heading into the bottom half of the table, meaning more than half of the league would be plying their trade in Europe next season. For that to happen, the following points all had to have taken place:

• Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle finish in the top five of the Premier League
• Aston Villa win the Champions League and finish between sixth and 10th in the Premier League
• Man United or Tottenham win the Europa League and finish between sixth and 10th
• Chelsea win the Conference League and finish between sixth and 10th
• Crystal Palace win the FA Cup and finishes between sixth and 10th
• Another team finishes between sixth and 10th

This would've provided the Premier League with seven Champions League spots, three Europa League spots, and a single Conference League place - a scenario that we have never seen before.

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