The Premier League is poised for a potentially historic weekend that could see as many as six English clubs qualify for next season's Champions League and a total of ten teams representing the league in European competition. Manchester United edged closer to securing a Champions League berth with a 2-1 win over Brentford on Monday Night Football, a hard‑fought victory at Old Trafford that extended Michael Carrick's side's grip on third place. The win boosted United's points tally and gave them an 11‑point cushion over sixth‑placed Brighton with only four games remaining, meaning that just two more points are needed for United to lock in a return to Europe's elite tournament. At the same time, Liverpool's triumph over Crystal Palace, combined with Aston Villa's loss to Fulham earlier in the day, propelled Jurgen Klopp's team into fourth place on goal difference.
This development revived the prospect of the Premier League sending six clubs to the Champions League next season. Under the current UEFA allocation, if Unai Emery's Aston Villa finish fifth but also capture the Europa League title, the extra Champions League slot earned by English clubs' recent continental success would be passed down to the sixth‑placed side – currently Brighton, who sit on 50 points. Brighton's position, however, is far from secure.
They are only two points ahead of Fulham, who sit in tenth place, and the battle for European places now involves Bournemouth (49 points), Chelsea (48 points) and Brentford (48 points). As things stand, the Premier League is guaranteed five spots in the Champions League for the upcoming season, ensuring at least eight English clubs will compete in Europe: the top five in the Champions League, the sixth‑placed team and the FA Cup winners in the Europa League, and the seventh‑placed side in the Europa Conference League. The situation could become even more favorable for English clubs, potentially expanding the total number of participants to ten.
This could happen through several pathways, though some are more plausible than others. The most likely route is via the Europa League. If an English side reaches the final – for instance, a showdown between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest – one of them is guaranteed to win the trophy.
Should Villa win the Europa League and also finish in the top four, the Champions League place reserved for the Europa League winners would be reallocated to the club with the highest UEFA coefficient that has not already qualified, which at present would be Club Brugge. Conversely, if Villa clinches the Europa League but finishes outside the top four, the Premier League would gain a sixth Champions League berth, with the exact beneficiary depending on Villa's final league position. For example, if Villa end the season in fifth place, the sixth‑placed team would be promoted to the Champions League, while England would relinquish one Europa League slot. In total, England would still retain eight European places: six in the Champions League, one in the Europa League (the FA Cup winners), and one in the Conference League (the seventh‑placed team).
A more straightforward scenario would involve Nottingham Forest pulling off an upset by winning the Europa League. In that case, Forest would automatically become the Premier League's sixth Champions League representative, mirroring Tottenham Hotspur's experience in the previous campaign. The winner of the Conference League also earns direct entry into the following season's Europa League, adding another layer of opportunity for English clubs.
Crystal Palace, who are slated to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi‑finals, are among the favorites to lift that trophy in Leipzig on 27 May. Should Palace win, they would qualify for the Europa League next season despite currently sitting 13th in the Premier League table, a position that would not normally grant European football through league placement. If Palace secure the Conference League and either Villa or Forest win the Europa League, the Premier League could see nine clubs in European competition: five in the Champions League, three in the Europa League (the FA Cup winners, the Conference League winners, and the sixth‑placed team), and one in the Conference League (the seventh‑placed team). This intricate web of possibilities hinges on multiple outcomes: Palace winning the Conference League, an English side winning the Europa League, and the league positions of those clubs aligning appropriately.
In another scenario, Manchester City could capture their eighth FA Cup on 16 May. If that occurs, the sixth and seventh places in the Premier League would qualify for the Europa League, while the eighth‑placed side would enter the Conference League. Should Chelsea win the FA Cup instead, they would need to finish within the top seven for the Conference League spot to pass to the eighth‑placed team.
Overall, the final weeks of the Premier League season promise a dramatic scramble for European qualification. Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Brentford, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and even Manchester City all have something to play for, whether it's a coveted Champions League berth, a Europa League slot, or a chance to compete in the Conference League. Fans can follow the action live on the Sky Sports app, or access highlights and live tables online.
The stakes are high, and every point earned or dropped could reshape the composition of English football on the continental stage for the 2026‑27 season.