With just seven gameweeks left of the Premier League season, there is still a chance 11 teams could qualify for Europe next season.
England would normally receive four Champions League places, two for the Europa League and one in the Conference League play-off stage – a total of seven teams being in European competitions.
But the extra Champions League place for next season has now been secured after Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid, which means a top-five finish in the Premier League will ensure qualification.
There are also additional places for the winners of the Champions League and Europa League, if not already qualified through the league.
Arsenal and Aston Villa are in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Manchester United and Tottenham at the same stage of the Europa League.
That means SEVEN English teams could be in the Champions League next season.
Man Utd and Spurs are eyeing Europa League glory
The next side down in the league table goes into the Europa League with the FA Cup victors.
If the winner had already qualified, England’s second Europa League spot would fall to the next team in the table.
For that reason, Crystal Palace are likely the team that would benefit most from winning the FA Cup of all the semi-finalists.
Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are also still in the competition, though they are expected to finish in a position to qualify for Europe through the league.
The Conference League winners also qualify for the Europa League, with Chelsea still in contention, unless they do so through league position.
That means THREE English teams could be in the Europa League next season.
Newcastle secured the Conference League spot with their Carabao Cup win, but could upgrade to the Champions League or Europa League through their league position – they are currently fifth with a game in hand on the teams above them.
That would see the Carabao Cup winners’ place transfer to the leading team in the league not already qualified for the Champions League or Europa League.
How do 11 Premier League teams qualify for Europe?
Aston Villa have reached the Champions League quarter-finals
So, for 11 teams to qualify for Europe, the following must happen:
England earns a fifth Champions League place. Already done.
Aston Villa win the Champions League and finish outside the top five – or Arsenal, though they are second and highly unlikely to fall out of the top five.
Manchester United or Spurs win the Europa League, and Chelsea win the Conference League, while slipping out of the qualifying positions to at least eighth in the league.
Newcastle qualify for at least the Europa League through their league position to vacate their Conference League spot.
Who could qualify?
Nottingham Forest are aiming to secure Champions League qualification
This is a hypothetical scenario that would see 11 Premier League teams qualify for Europe next season.
Champions League (seven): Liverpool (1), Arsenal (2), Nottingham Forest (3), Man City (4) and Newcastle (5) through league position; Aston Villa (6) as Champions League winners; Manchester United or Tottenham as Europa League winners.
Europa League (three): Fulham through league position (7); Crystal Palace as FA Cup winners; Chelsea (8) as Conference League winners.
Conference League (one): Brighton (9), inheriting the Carabao Cup winners’ spot from Newcastle as the highest non-qualified team.