How Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton could qualify for Champions League this season | OneFootball

The Premier League could boast six clubs in the Champions League for a second season running if all the right pieces fall into place.

It is the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned an additional spot, with the English top flight at the top of the European Performance Standings (EPS) after its clubs reached the final of all three European competitions.

Last term saw an unprecedented six English clubs qualify for the Champions League; five by their league position, and with Tottenham earning their place in the league phase after winning the Europa League.

The same could happen again this term, with the Premier League appearing as one of the more prominent beneficiaries to the competition’s expansion to 36 teams that came into effect at the beginning of 2024/25.

Here’s what needs to happen

Why six Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League

As with every season, the top four clubs in the Premier League table are guaranteed a spot in the 2026/27 edition – but like last year, England have earned an additional place.

But the winner of the Europa League is also awarded a place in the Champions League - and Aston Villa are through to the final to play Freiberg in Istanbul on Wednesday 20 May.

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Watkins celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals (Getty)

Villa are currently fifth in the Premier League, six points ahead of sixth-placed Bournemouth. As it stands, they are looking on course to qualify for the Champions League anyway.

Villa could yet finish fourth, as they are level on points with Liverpool. If Villa win the Europa League and finish in the top four, the Premier League will stay with five teams in the Champions League.

But if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth the additional place in the Champions League awarded by the EPS will drop down to the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League.

This is of interest to several Premier League teams, with the race for sixth extremely competitive this season. There are just four points separating sixth-placed Brighton to Fulham, in 11th.

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Bournemouth could qualify for next season’s Champions League (Reuters)

The race for sixth place in the Premier League...

5th) Aston Villa | Pts: 58, GD: +4

7th) Brentford | Pts: 51, GD: +6

8th) Brighton | Pts: 50, GD: +7

9th) Chelsea | Pts: 48, GD: +6

10th) Everton | Pts: 48, GD: 0

11th) Fulham | Pts: 48, GD: -5

Remaining fixtures

Bournemouth: Fulham (a), Man City (h), Nottingham Forest (a)

Brentford: Man City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a)

Brighton: Wolves (h), Leeds (a), Manchester United (h)

Chelsea: Liverpool (a), Tottenham (h), Sunderland (a)

Everton: Crystal Palace (a), Sunderland (h), Tottenham (a)

Fulham: Bournemouth (h), Wolves (a), Newcastle (h)

Why Brentford might need to lose on the final day

If Brentford went into their final-day trip to Liverpool in 6th, they could be in a position where they need to lose to qualify for Champions League.

The team who finishes the season in 6th would only qualify for Champions League if Aston Villa won the Europa League and finished 5th.

Liverpool, who are 4th, would therefore need to finish above Aston Villa, and Brentford could ensure that happens by losing at Anfield.

It’s highly unlikely it plays out this way, but Brentford beating Liverpool on the final day could result in Aston Villa finishing above the Reds.