Premier League clinches fifth position for next season’s Champions League – can Brentford or Everton seize it?
The Premier League is guaranteed to have a minimum of five teams participating in next season’s Champions League following the acquisition of an extra European Performance Spot (EPS).
This additional position was confirmed after Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, ensuring that England will rank among UEFA’s top two leagues in this season’s coefficient standings.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Premier League has secured an extra spot, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle all competing in this season’s tournament, while Tottenham also qualified as a sixth team by winning the Europa League.
UEFA grants this bonus spot to the two leagues that perform best across its three tournaments—the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—and England has been at the forefront of the rankings for a significant portion of the season.
All nine teams that entered the three tournaments successfully navigated the group stages, although only five progressed to the quarterfinals.
Who will finish fifth in the Premier League?
The competition for that position remains highly competitive.
Liverpool currently sits in fifth place with 49 points, holding a narrow one-point lead over sixth-placed Chelsea, while Brentford and Everton are just three points behind. In fact, there is only a seven-point gap between fifth and 13th place.
There is also the possibility of even greater English representation in next season’s tournament.
If Aston Villa—currently in fourth—wins the Europa League but does not finish in the top five, they would automatically qualify, resulting in six Premier League teams in the Champions League.
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A similar situation could arise for Liverpool if they win this season’s Champions League and do not finish in the top four.
If either team secures a European trophy and finishes fifth, sixth place would also gain entry to the Champions League. Should both scenarios happen—where two English clubs win European titles and finish in fifth and sixth—seventh place could also qualify.
Nottingham Forest remains another potential wildcard. If they win the Europa League, they would also guarantee Champions League participation regardless of their current league standing, which is presently 16th.
Spain favoured for second slot
While the Premier League has already secured one EPS position, the contest for the second is still in progress.
Spain is currently leading ahead of Germany and Portugal, although outcomes in the later stages of European competitions could still alter the rankings.
UEFA’s coefficient rankings are determined based on club performances across all three tournaments, with points awarded for victories, draws, and advancement through each round, in addition to bonus points for finishes in the league phase.
If Spain maintains its position, it would replicate last season’s result, with the Premier League and LaLiga each claiming the two additional Champions League spots.
