English clubs on course to secure fifth Champions League spot again | OneFootball

Premier League clubs are on course to secure a fifth Champions League spot for the second consecutive year via the through the UEFA coefficient table.

England is top of the standings following the conclusion of the group stage in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

The UEFA coefficient table measures how each country’s clubs perform across the three European competitions each season.

The top two nations at the end of the campaign are awarded one of the additional European Performance Spots for the following campaign.

Newcastle United benefited after finishing fifth in the Premier League last term, and a repeat now looks highly likely for 2026/27.

Read on as we look at the latest UEFA coefficient table (stats correct – January 30, 2026), before taking a closer look at how the system works.

UEFA coefficient table

How does the UEFA coefficient table work?

Each nation is awarded points based on results in UEFA’s three club competitions – two for a win, one for a draw and zero for a defeat.

Their points totals are divided by the number of clubs competing in European competitions, with nations ranked by their average scores.

Bonus points are also awarded according to finishing positions in the group stage and subsequent progress in the knockout phase.

Those points are weighted towards the Champions League, which hands a significant advantage to the teams from the ‘Big Five’ leagues.

Which Premier League club will secure the European Performance Spot?

Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa look nailed on to finish in the top five this season, but which teams will join them is less clear.

Just five points separate fourth-placed Manchester United from Sunderland in 11th, so the race will likely go down to the wire.

United, Chelsea and Liverpool will all expect to qualify for the 2026/27 Champions League, but at least one of them could miss out.

Based on current form, Liverpool could be the odd ones out after failing to live up to expectations in their defence of the title.

The teams below that elite group will hope that a strong run of form over the final 15 games fires them into the top five.

Fulham, Newcastle and Everton are among the teams which could capitalise if any of the big guns falter on the run-in.