Premier League clubs are battling to finish inside the top seven in a bid to secure their place in a European competition next season.
As things stand, four teams will qualify for the UEFA Champions League, two for the Europa League, and likely two for the Conference League. Of course, things could change depending on how this season’s tournaments pan out, and whether there’s a positive change in UEFA co-efficient rankings in England’s favour.
Last season, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United made up the top four and qualified for the Champions League, although City would have been there regardless of league finish after winning the tournament. However, things will look a little different for 2024/25.
The Sporting News takes a look at who has already mathematically qualified, and who is on the brink.
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Below is the latest on which Premier League teams have qualified for which European competition in 2024/25.
Teams qualified:
As the Champions League changes to a ‘Swiss model’ format in the 2024/25 campaign, the possibility of having five English clubs in the tournament was looking likely at one stage.
With 36 clubs set to compete in next season’s Champions League, an increase from the previous 32, two of the additional four spots will be allocated to the best-performing nations in the 2023/24 season. Over the past six seasons, the Premier League would have earned an extra spot in five instances, typically going to the fifth-placed team. However, this season has seen Premier League teams dumped out of Europe early, resulting in Italy and Germany likely claiming these additional places. With no English side left in the Champions League semifinals, there is also no chance of a Premier League side qualifying for next season as the tournament winners.
Therefore, only the teams who finish in the top four of the Premier League will qualify for next season’s Champions League. At the moment, only Arsenal and Manchester City are certain to finish in the top four, although Liverpool‘s place will be confirmed if Tottenham do not beat Chelsea on May 2.
Aston Villa are the favourites for fourth place and will be guaranteed that spot if they can beat Brighton & Hove Albion in their next game, and Spurs lose to Liverpool this week.
Teams qualified:
*These teams are guaranteed at least a Europa League place but could qualify for the Champions League instead
The team that finishes in fifth place in the Premier League is assured of a place in next season’s Europa League group stage. The team that wins the FA Cup can also qualify.
As of April 30, Liverpool and Aston Villa know that, if they were to endure a shock run of results over the final weeks of the season, they are at least guaranteed a place in the Europa League next season as they cannot finish any lower than fifth in the Premier League.
Should they both achieve Champions League qualification, it is likely that one of Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle United will finish fifth and claim the league qualification spot. However, Manchester United could still claim a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup final, which is where things get more complicated.
Erik ten Hag’s side face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25, and the scenarios for European qualification based on that game as are follows:
There is also the possibility that Aston Villa qualify for the Europa League by winning this season’s Europa Conference League. However, should Villa win that tournament, it will not affect England’s number of Europa League places: the Villans are already assured of a spot in the competition via their league position, and they will play in the Champions League instead if they finish in the top four.
Teams qualified:
**Will not play in the competition because they are guaranteed a spot in either the Champions League or Europa League instead
England get one qualification spot for the UEFA Europa Conference League (which will be called just the UEFA Conference League from 2024/25). Usually, that place goes to the winners of the Carabao Cup, which this season was Liverpool.
However, the Reds will not be playing in that competition as they are guaranteed a Europa League spot via their league finish and will almost certainly qualify for the Champions League via the top four. As a result, this Conference League spot will go to the highest-placed finisher not already qualified for Europe, as was the case with Aston Villa this season.
As of May 2, these are the English teams occupying the qualifying spots for European competitions in 2024/25.
Champions League: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United
Conference League: Newcastle United
Updated on Thursday, May 2, 2024
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played |
Goals Scored |
Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arsenal | 80 | 35 | 85 | +57 |
| 2. | Manchester City | 79 | 34 | 81 | +50 |
| 3. | Liverpool | 75 | 35 | 77 | +41 |
| 4. | Aston Villa | 67 | 35 | 73 | +21 |
| 5. | Tottenham Hotspur | 60 | 34 | 67 | +13 |
| 6. | Manchester United | 54 | 34 | 52 | +1 |
| 7. | Newcastle United | 53 | 34 | 74 | +19 |
| 8. | Chelsea | 51 | 34 | 65 | +6 |
| 9. | West Ham | 49 | 35 | 56 | -9 |
| 10. | Bournemouth | 48 | 35 | 52 | -8 |
| 11. | Wolves | 46 | 35 | 48 | -7 |
| 12. | Brighton | 44 | 34 | 52 | -5 |
| 13. | Fulham | 43 | 35 | 51 | -4 |
| 14. | Crystal Palace | 40 | 35 | 45 | -12 |
| 15. | Everton* | 36 | 35 | 37 | -11 |
| 16. | Brentford | 35 | 35 | 52 | -8 |
| 17. | Nottingham Forest** | 26 | 35 | 42 | -20 |
| 18. | Luton Town | 25 | 35 | 48 | -29 |
| 19. | Burnley | 24 | 35 | 38 | -32 |
| 20. | Sheffield United (R) | 16 | 35 | 34 | -63 |
*Deducted 10 points for breach of profit and sustainability rules. Punishment was reduced to six points on appeal but were then deducted a further two points for another breach on April 8.
**Deducted four points for breach of profit and sustainability rules on Mar. 18.
