As we enter the final week of the Premier League season, the incredibly crowded race for European qualification will be so much fun to see play out.
The title race is done and dusted with Arsenal set to lift the PL trophy for the first time in 22 years, while Spurs and West Ham are (still) scrapping to stay out of the relegation zone, but there are still European spots yet to be decided via league position and plenty of ways this could play out.
MORE — Latest Premier League table
It’s a scrap between six teams for four open spots, and there is even an extra layer of complexity depending on how Aston Villa get on in the Europa League final this week.
Here is everything you need to know about which Premier League teams can qualify for Europe, which competition they could qualify for and how many teams can make it.
Which Premier League teams have qualified for Europe already?
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa have all definitely qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season. Liverpool are yet to guarantee their spot in the Champions League but have definitely qualified for at least the Europa League.
How many Premier League can qualify for Europe?
Up to nine teams from the Premier League can qualify for Europe. Eight are definitely in and five will definitely be in the Champions League, which could rise to six if Aston Villa finish 5th in the Premier League after winning their Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday. Crystal Palace can’t qualify for Europe via their league position, but they would be in the Europa League next season if they beat Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final next week.
Which European competitions can Premier League teams qualify for?
Okay, here it goes: Liverpool need a win on the final day at home to Brentford to seal at least 5th place and their spot in the Champions League for next season. Whichever team finishes in 6th place will definitely qualify for the Europa League, but after Aston Villa won the Europa League, if Villa finish in 5th place in the Premier League table then 6th place becomes a Champions League spot. Whichever team finishes in 7th will definitely get a Europa League spot, and the team that finishes in 8th will definitely go into the Conference League. Got it? Good.
How does the Premier League’s European race stand as we enter the final week?
Here is how the current Premier League table looks, and which European competition teams would qualify for if they finish in that spot:
- Arsenal — +42 GD, 79 points — CHAMPIONS
- Manchester City — +43 GD, 77 points — CLINCHED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
- Manchester United — +16 GD, 68 points — CLINCHED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
- Aston Villa — +6 GD, 62 points — CLINCHED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
- Liverpool — +10 GD, 59 points — Champions League spot — CLINCHED EUROPA LEAGUE, AT MINIMUM
- Bournemouth — +4 GD, 56 points — Europa League or Champions League spot — CLINCHED EUROPA LEAGUE, AT MINIMUM
- Brighton & Hove Albion — +9 GD, 53 points — Europa League spot
- Chelsea — +7 GD, 52 points — Conference League spot
- Brentford — +3 GD, 52 points
- Sunderland — -7 GD, 51 points
