The number of English sides competing in Europe next season could be as high as 11. Such a scenario would require both the Champions League winner and the Europa League winner to finish outside of the top five in the Premier League.
So, in what world is this possible? Well, with Liverpool beating Galatasaray 4-1 and advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals, they could well win their seventh tournament. The Merseyside team have failed to replicate their form from last season and find themselves fifth in the league, with Chelsea breathing down their necks to try and secure that last qualification spot.
Just like last season, the Premier League is in a position to see five teams qualify for the Champions League due to having the highest coefficient in Europe.
So if Liverpool can defeat last season’s Champions League winners PSG in the quarter-finals, the Scousers may start dreaming of European glory once again!
We have heard about the Champions League, but what about the Europa League? Well, after last night’s results, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have both qualified for the quarter-finals. Relegation battlers Forest currently sit in 17th, and it is mathematically impossible for them to finish in the top five.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, have replicated last season’s performances, unlike Forest and Liverpool, as they currently sit fourth in the league table. Last season they finished sixth, missing out on the Champions League on goal difference. After not picking up a win in their last four games, PTSD could be kicking in for the Villains.
This scenario would mean that seven Premier League teams are competing in the Champions League next season: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest.
It would then require a maximum of three English teams to make it into the Europa League. This is possible thanks to Crystal Palace; if the Eagles were to win the Conference League, they would qualify for the second tier of European football. Last year’s FA Cup winners will face Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of the competition.
This would leave two places available for sides to qualify through more traditional means.
So now that the European proceedings have been explained lets run through the domestic cup competitions.
So now that the European proceedings have been explained, let’s run through the domestic cup competitions.
The winner of the FA Cup will qualify for the Europa League, assuming they secure access for the Champions League. Teams most likely to be in this situation are West Ham or Leeds, who face each other in the quarter-finals.
If the FA Cup winners do achieve Champions League spots, then the two remaining place will go to the sides finishing sixth and seventh. This would most likely be Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, or Liverpool.
This is all assuming there is no repeat of Crystal Palace’s Europa League nightmare from the summer of 2025.
That would leave an 11th European place, a Conference League spot, which would either go to the team in seventh or the team in eighth, with Everton, Brentford, and Newcastle most likely to finish in these positions. It would go to the team in seventh if one of the sides in the Europa League qualifies via the FA Cup, but the side in eighth would get it if it comes down to league position.
So, if this miracle did occur, these are the teams that could flood Europe from the Premier League this season.
Champions League: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Nottingham Forrest
Europa League: Aston Villa, West Ham, Crystal Palace
Conference League: Newcastle, Everton
