Liverpool, Villa & Palace key to Premier League securing extra European qualification places | OneFootball

More than half of the 20 Premier League clubs still have a chance of qualifying for European competitions next season.

An unlikely scenario could result in 11 English teams participating in Europe – seven in the Champions League, three in the Europa League and one in the Europa Conference League.

The Premier League is still represented in each competition this season, and winning one or more of them would add to the number of teams in Europe next term.

With just seven points separating the teams from fifth to 13th place, there could be plenty of twists and turns before the season ends.

Champions League

The Premier League has secured a fifth Champions League spot for next season’s competition after clinching top spot in the European Performance Standings.

They could feasibly have more places if Liverpool and Aston Villa win their respective European competitions and drop out of the top five.

Nottingham Forest could also qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.

They are well-placed to reach the semi-finals of UEFA’s second-tier competition after drawing 1-1 at Porto on Thursday.

While there are plenty of ‘ifs and buts’ in the equation, the Premier League is guaranteed to be well represented in the 2026/27 Champions League.

Europa League

With the top five teams heading to the Champions League, the team that finishes sixth and the FA Cup winners will be in the Europa League.

However, if Manchester City or Chelsea win the FA Cup and finish in the top six, their Europa League spot would go to the next-highest-ranked team that has not already qualified for Europe.

Opta rate Chelsea as the favourites to finish sixth this season, giving them a 26.75 percent chance of filling that position at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool and Villa could also influence Europa League qualification depending on whether they emerge victorious in their respective European competitions.

The same goes for Crystal Palace. If they win the Europa Conference League and finish outside the top six, they will enter next season’s Europa League.

Europa Conference League

Man City secured a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League by winning the League Cup at Wembley Stadium last month.

However, they are nailed on to qualify for the Champions League by virtue of their league position, so their spot will be passed to a team further down the standings.

Whoever wins the FA Cup, coupled with the outcome of Liverpool and Villa in European competitions, will determine which team qualifies.

Finishing eighth, ninth or 10th in the Premier League could qualify for the Europa Conference League, which would be a useful financial boost for that team.

As evidenced by Palace’s run to the quarter-finals, the competition can add drama to a season that may otherwise have drifted along.

Which teams are most likely to benefit?

While the Premier League could have 11 teams in Europe next season, that is extremely unlikely.

Liverpool are on their way out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, which blows a hole in the calculations.

As things stand, the teams jostling for mid-table positions are the ones most likely to benefit if other elements fall into place.

There are just four points between Brentford in seventh place and Bournemouth in 13th position. Palace are just three points adrift of the Cherries.

Everton, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Newcastle United are also in the mix, setting up a thrilling end to the season.