How the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League qualifying spots will be decided this season, including what Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win means for the Eagles and other Premier League sides…
How many Premier League teams will qualify for the Champions League?
Thanks to England’s strong UEFA co-efficient score this season AND Tottenham and Manchester United’s progression to the Europa League final, SIX Premier League teams will play in the Champions League next season – the top five in the final Premier League table and the victors of the Europa League final on May 21.
Which Premier League teams will qualify for the Europa League?
The FA Cup winners and the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League qualify for the Europa League. So that means Crystal Palace are assured of a place in the Europa League next season, thanks to their victory over Manchester City at Wembley.
Man City are currently sixth and in position to take a Europa League spot through their league placing. If they do finish in the top five – or qualify for the Europa League through their league position – their Europa League place for winning the Conference League does NOT get passed on.
Which Premier League teams will qualify for the Conference League?
Newcastle have already guaranteed themselves a Conference League play-off berth by winning the Carabao Cup.
Of course, they are currently in the top five and will be hoping to qualify for either the Champions League or Europa League through their final league position.
If Newcastle finish in the top six, their Conference League play-off place will be passed onto the team in seventh. That is currently Nottingham Forest.
How Chelsea’s finishing position affects the permutations…
Two key rules to keep in mind for this bit:
European title winners get a place in Europe – but if they finish in a Premier League spot which qualifies them for the competition their title win earns them entry into (or the next tier up) there is no additional place passed on.
If the European title winners finish in a Premier League spot which does not qualify them for the competition, their title win earns them entry, so there is an additional place.
So…
Chelsea can qualify for the Champions League as a top-five finisher. If they do that and win the Conference League, their Europa League spot for winning the Conference League is given up.
If Chelsea win the Conference League and finish sixth, they qualify for the Europa League through their Conference League win and their league position entry to the Europa League is passed on.
If Chelsea win the Conference League and finish in a Premier League position which would qualify them for the Conference League play-off (passed on from Newcastle), they would qualify for the Europa League through their Conference League win and the Conference League play-off place would be given up.