- The Premier League has earned a fifth Champions League spot for next season.
- Uefa rewards the top two performing leagues with an additional European place.
- Several English clubs could potentially expand this number through trophy wins.
England has secured a European Performance Spot for the second year. This was confirmed following Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Sporting. Because of this, the Premier League will have five teams in the Champions League next season, following a similar benefit for Newcastle United previously.
Uefa grants these extra berths to the two leagues showing the best overall performance in European competitions. England remained dominant for most of the year, as nine clubs reached the last 16. Strong coefficient points from the league phase ensured this result despite only five reaching the quarter-finals.
While Spain is likely to take the second spot, Germany remains a threat. Bayern Munich recently beat Real Madrid 2-1, and Freiburg is still active in the Europa League. If Spain and England prevail, the top two leagues will remain the same as the previous season.
The fight for the fifth position in England is very close. Liverpool currently leads this race with 49 points, while Bournemouth is only seven points behind in 13th. Other contenders include Chelsea with 48 points, and Brentford and Everton, who both have 46 points.
Additional teams could qualify if certain trophies are won. If Aston Villa or Liverpool win a European title while finishing fifth, a sixth team would qualify via the EPS. If both achieve this, a seventh team could enter. Nottingham Forest could also trigger this by winning the Europa League.
