UEFA have confirmed the scenario for how SEVEN Premier League teams can play in next season's Champions League.
Earlier this week, four Premier League sides were eliminated from the Champions League at the round of 16 - with Manchester City, Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle all suffering aggregate defeats.
Only Arsenal and Liverpool secured passage to the quarter finals, with Sporting CP and Paris Saint-Germain their respective opponents in the next round.
Despite the dismal performance of English sides, the Premier League is still likely to be given an extra Champions League spot next term through the 'European Performance Spot’ brought in.
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That's because the all-important top-two UEFA coefficient has effectively been sealed. In the table based off the five seasons, England lead the way with 115.630 points, with Italy in second after accruing 99.660 points.
Spain are in third but wins for Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in the Europa League and Conference League on Thursday has helped England's case and though it is not completely set in stone mathematically, they are in a strong position.
Last year Newcastle benefited from the extra spot after finishing fifth, while Spurs' Europa League win saw them also qualify for the Champions League.
Fifth place is again on course to play in the Champions League alongside the Premier League's top four but so too could another two English sides.
How can seven teams play in the Champions League next season?
If Villa win the Europa League, they will play in the Champions League in the 2026/27 campaign - just as Spurs did last year.
Liverpool will also qualify for next season's leading European club competition if they are able to go all the way and win the trophy for the seventh time.
But the league performance of the two sides could open up a spot for whoever finishes seventh in the Premier league.
If both aforementioned teams go all the way in Europe and finish fifth or sixth in the Premier League, seventh will get a Champions League spot.
Keith Andrews' Brentford currently occupy seventh after an excellent season post-Thomas Frank and their European dream could be on the cards.
In the event of this happening and Villa coming sixth behind fifth-placed Liverpool, the Europa League spots would go to eighth and the FA Cup winners. The Conference League spot would be forfeited.
If the places are swapped, first to seventh will still get Champions League but one of the Europa League spots is forfeited and 8th place gets Conference League.
The Gazette's Newcastle United reporter Dominic Scurr sought clarity from UEFA, who confirmed: "If Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League and finish 5th and Aston Villa win the UEFA Europa League and finish 6th, the EPS would be awarded to the seventh-ranked club in the EPL, in accordance with Article 3.08 and 3.09 of the competition regulations."
That outcome is very much possible, with the points tally incredibly tight when it comes to those pushing for Champions League.
It should also be noted that if Crystal Palace win the Conference League, they will be playing Europa League football next season.
The likes of Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Newcastle could yet gain as part of the potential knock-on effects.
Topics: UEFA, Champions League, Premier League
Josh Lawless