The race for European qualification: Who looks set to qualify and how? | OneFootball

The race for European qualification is hotting up as the end of the Premier League campaign approaches.

It remains to be seen how many English teams will qualify for Europe next season. That will depend on how the clubs currently in European competitions fare, as well as where the winners of the domestic cups finish.

Five clubs will qualify for the Champions League through the Premier League because of the collective performance of English clubs in Europe this season.

Newcastle, meanwhile, look in with a good chance of a top-six finish meaning their Conference League spot, which was obtained by winning the EFL Cup, will be passed down onto another team through the Premier League.

Man City winning the FA Cup, having reached the final to face Crystal Palace, and finishing in the top six would also mean that European qualification shifts further down. In the situation described, eight teams would get into Europe through the league.

Meanwhile, Chelsea winning the Conference League but finishing eighth, which seems unlikely, could even see a ninth team get Europe through the league. Free Bets UK has the best offers to bet on the remaining Premier League games and who you think will qualify for Europe, helping you to bet smarter in the UK.

We assess the race for Europe and where each team could end up based on their final few games…

1 – Liverpool 82pts

Liverpool have already been crowned Premier League champions and so will be in next season’s Champions League.

2 – Arsenal 67pts

Arsenal could still qualify for the Champions League as winners of the competition but look nailed on for qualification through the league anyway.

3 – Newcastle 62pts

As mentioned, Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League by winning the EFL Cup but it would be a surprise if they did not qualify for one of the other competitions. They are currently third and five points clear of Aston Villa in seventh, while are in fine form having won six of the last seven in the league. They do, however, have some tough games to end the season.

Remaining league games: Brighton (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Everton (H)

Finishing in the top six opens the door for another side to qualify for the Conference League via the Premier League, but while looking likely it is not a certainty that Newcastle will do so.

4 – Manchester City 61pts

City can get into Europe two ways, through the FA Cup, which would see them gain entry to the Europa League, or through their league position. They are currently fourth, a point ahead of Chelsea in fifth and Nottingham Forest in sixth but having played a game more than the latter. In a season which has seen a huge drop off from Pep Guardiola’s men, they still look well placed to get back into the Champions League having won four of their last five in the league and have some winnable games to end the campaign.

Remaining league games: Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)

5 – Chelsea 60pts

Enzo Maresca’s men were tipped as title challengers earlier this season but have tailed off considerably since then. Depending on what Forest do with their game in hand, qualification for the Champions League could yet be taken out of their hands with just four games remaining, which are…

Remaining league games: Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Man Utd (H), Nottingham Forest (A)

Winning the Conference League could also see them qualify for the Europa League if they miss out altogether. They will surely be back in Europe but in which competition remains to be seen, and that tough end to the season does not bode well for the Blues.

6 – Nottingham Forest 60pts

Forest’s defeat to Brentford on Thursday was a huge missed opportunity to climb back into the top five. Having been knocked out of the FA Cup, all of Forest’s hopes of European qualification rest on the league. They have been in the Champions League spots for much of the season, so it would be disappointing to miss out but they look set for a return to European football in some form for the first time in a while.

Remaining league games: Crystal Palace (A), Leicester (H), West Ham (A), Chelsea (H)

Playing three of their last four against bottom-half teams is also a boost, ahead of what could be a monumental clash against Chelsea on the final day.

7 – Aston Villa 57pts

Villa have some catching up to do if they are to get back into the Champions League again. They are three points behind Chelsea and Forest as it stands, four behind Man City and five behind Newcastle. Having also been knocked out of the FA Cup, their European hopes rest entirely on the league.

Remaining league games: Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A), Tottenham (H), Man Utd (A)

Villa also have a difficult final run in, facing two sides who have European hopes too in Fulham and Bournemouth. Tottenham could be pre-occupied with the Europa League final should they progress past Bodo/Glimt, which could work in Villa’s favour, while the Man Utd game takes place a few days after that final, which they could also play in should they beat Athletic Club. Villa are still six points clear of Fulham in eighth so Europa League at least looks likely, and are in good form too – currently sitting fourth in the league’s form table over the last six games.

8 – Fulham 51pts

Fulham will have strong hopes of at least making the Conference League. A six-point gap to Villa in seventh with four games left is a big ask to overturn, though they do face Unai Emery’s side next. But as detailed, eighth could be enough for a Conference League place. Their form has been very mixed of late, however, winning three and losing four of the last seven in the league.

Remaining games: Aston Villa (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Man City (H)

Their final four games are not easy either, with a trip to Villa followed by a stubborn Everton side. Then there’s a west London derby with Brentford, who also have European desires, before taking on Man City, who could still need a result to qualify for the Champions League.

9 – Brighton 51pts

The Seagulls are level on points with Fulham one place above them and picked up a huge win over West Ham on Saturday, ending a poor run of form. There is a possibility that ninth could also get into the Conference League should Chelsea win this year’s competition but finish eighth, though that appears very unlikely. It looks as though eighth could be in with a realistic chance of making Europe though and Brighton will feel confident that they can end the season there.

Remaining games: Newcastle (H), Wolves (A), Liverpool (H), Tottenham (A)

Their final few games look tough, however. Newcastle are in fine form and going for Champions League qualification, Wolves are resurgent under Vitor Pereira and Liverpool are the best team in the league.

10 – Bournemouth 50pts

The Cherries also have hopes of reaching Europe. Their form has tailed off of late but they are still in with a chance of bringing European football to the Vitality, sitting a point behind Brighton and Fulham. They have just won of the last nine league games.

Remaining games: Arsenal (A), Aston Villa (H), Man City (A), Leicester (H)

They also have to take on three of the top seven in their final four games before playing already relegated Leicester on the final day.

11 – Brentford 49pts

Brentford’s win over Forest on Thursday was a huge boost to their hopes of sneaking into Europe. They are now just two points behind rivals and eighth-placed Fulham, and still have to face Marco Silva’s side.

Remaining games: Man Utd (H), Ipswich (A), Fulham (H), Wolves (A)

12 – Crystal Palace 45pts

Olive Glasner’s side’s hopes of reaching Europe increased this weekend after reaching the FA Cup final. Should they beat Man City at Wembley, they would qualify for the Europa League though also remain in with a very slim chance of making the Conference League should they fail to do that, sitting six points behind Brighton and Fulham.

Remaining league games: Nottingham Forest (H), Tottenham (A), Wolves (H), Crystal Palace (A)

Manchester United

United are out of the race for Europe through the league but could make a stunning Champions League return by winning the Europa League. Their 3-0 semi-final first-leg win over Athletic Club has put them one foot in the final.

Tottenham

Likewise, Spurs could also make it into the Champions League despite a dismal domestic season by winning the Europa League, beat Norweigen side Bodo/Glimt in their semi-final first leg on Thursday.