It’s been a tough time for English teams in the Champions League with four of the Premier League’s six representatives dumped out of the competition in the last 16.
But hope for next season still remains – with as many as SEVEN teams still able to reach the 2026/27 competition.
How could the Premier League have seven teams in the Champions League?
Glad you asked. There is a specific but very possible outcome by which England could have seven teams in next season’s tournament – almost a fifth of the overall contingent in the league phase.
It would require Liverpool to win the Champions League this season while also finishing in the top five in the Premier League. Because of their qualification as holders the free spot given to their league position (assuming the Premier League retains five qualifying spots next season, more on that later) would pass down to the team in sixth, in theory.
If Aston Villa occupy that sixth position and win the Europa League – which they are favourites to do, according to Opta – they too would automatically qualify for the Champions League. Leaving the team in seventh, currently Brentford, to sweep up and reach Europe’s premier competition as one of a record-breaking seven representatives.
And another four in Europe overall – so 11 in total?!
Yep, more than half of the Premier League could be playing in Europe next season if everything falls into place.
Should the Premier League earn those seven Champions League spots, that still leaves two Europa League qualifying places and a single Conference League space up for grabs, dropping all the way down to 10th in the table.
Should Crystal Palace win this season’s Conference League – which again, they are favourites to do – that will earn them another Europa League place. If they were to do that and finish outside the top 10, that would make 11 English teams in Europe next season.
How likely is the Premier League to have five Champions League qualifying spots?
Despite such a poor week for English clubs, the Premier League still has more teams left in Europe than any other country apart from Spain, and currently leads the co-efficient rankings across the continent in the race for one of those two top spots to secure an extra Champions League place.
The main issue facing their hopes comes from England having only two clubs remaining in the Champions League, with the competition offering the most points for every win, draw or round progression compared to the Europa League and Conference League.
On the plus side, the chances of another country knocking England out of the top two is also reduced with only one representative left in the Champions League from each of Germany, Portugal and France.
Who is in the mix to qualify for the Champions League?
Assuming England earn five Champions League places through league position again, there are eight teams with at least a five per cent chance of qualifying, though that will of course increase in the event the Premier League ends up with more than five places.
Though they are given just a fractional chance of qualifying, even Newcastle down in 12th sit only seven points off the all-important fifth spot with as many games to go.
A lot will come down to the run-in. Looking specifically at those teams currently in the top five and the two closest to them, Chelsea and Brentford, here’s how their final fixtures are looking…
