2 years ago
The race for Europe has begun, but which teams - and how many - will make it remains to be seen.
As the Premier League season comes to a close, we take a look at:
How many English football teams can qualify for the European Championships?
There are seven European spots available for English teams, but that number could rise to nine, and the number of teams in each individual competition can change.
However, because the FA Cup winner this season will be either Liverpool or Chelsea, and both of those teams are expected to finish in the top four, their Europa League qualifying spot for winning the FA Cup will be passed down to the next highest Premier League finisher who does not qualify for Europe.
Similarly, because Liverpool won the Carabao Cup and are expected to finish in the top four, their Europa Conference League qualifying spot from that competition will be awarded to the next highest Premier League finisher who does not play in Europe.
As a result, teams finishing sixth and seventh in the Premier League table will be in the running for a place in either the Europa League or the Europa Conference League next season.
What happens if a Premier League team wins a European trophy ?
If Manchester City or Liverpool win the Champions League, they will automatically qualify for the group stages of the competition the following season. Regardless of where they finish in the Premier League table.
If they qualify for the competition in two ways, i.e. by winning it and finishing in the top four, no additional Champions League spot is created for another team to fill, and the number of Premier League clubs in next season's Champions League remains at four.
However, if West Ham wins the Europa League and finishes outside the top four, the Premier League could have a maximum of five teams in the Champions League next season. Winning that competition qualifies them for the group stages of the Champions League.
If Leicester win the Europa Conference League, they will automatically qualify for the Europa League the following season, giving them an extra European spot.
That means that if West Ham and Leicester win their respective competitions but finish outside the top seven in the Premier League, there will be nine English teams competing in European competition next season.
The nine teams would be: the top four and West Ham in the Champions League, fifth and sixth in the Europa League, plus Leicester, and seventh in the Europa Conference League.
However, if Leicester win the Europa Conference League and finish seventh - the position that will be rewarded with a Europa Conference League spot - there will be no English teams in the Europa Conference League the following season, as Leicester will be promoted to the Europa League. Last season, Sevilla and no other La Liga team participated in the Europa Conference League.
Eighth and out?
No team finishing eighth in the Premier League, regardless of permutation, will qualify for Europe unless they have won a domestic or European cup.
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