Sunderland’s unlikely European route explained, why even 11th could be enough | OneFootball

Sunderland could still reach Europe this season, but the permutations are complex, Sunderland Echo notes.

UEFA coefficients are set to give England five Champions League places, pushing qualification down the table. At present, top five reach the Champions League, sixth the Europa League and seventh the Europa Conference League.

Manchester City have won the Carabao Cup, which carries a Conference League berth. City are likely to qualify for the Champions League via the league, so that spot would move down.

The FA Cup could shift places again. If City or Chelsea win it and finish in the top six, the Europa League place moves into the league. If Leeds United or Southampton win it from outside Europe, that route closes.

Aston Villa would qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League even if they fell outside the top five. Liverpool, who face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, could similarly alter allocations with European success.

Put together, Europe could stretch. The likeliest spread is seven or eight teams, which keeps Sunderland in the mix, with seven points separating fifth from 13th.

More extreme alignments could bring ninth or 10th into play. In the least likely case, 11th would suffice if Liverpool and Villa won in Europe yet finished outside the top five, and Crystal Palace won the Conference League while outside the top six, making 11 English entrants, seven in the Champions League, three in the Europa League and one in the Conference League.

Source: Sunderland Echo