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 one for the Conference League.
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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Which Premier League teams have qualified for Europe next season?
Below is the latest on which Premier League teams have qualified for which European competition in 2024/25.
UEFA Champions League
Teams qualified:
- Arsenal
- Manchester City
- Liverpool
- Aston Villa
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. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have long been guaranteed of the top three spots and City’s win over Tottenham during the final week of the season meant Spurs were not longer able to catch Aston Villa in fourth.
UEFA Europa League
Teams qualified:
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.
Tottenham will finish fifth and claim the league qualification spot for the Europa League if they avoid defeat to relegated Sheffield United on the final day. However, Manchester United could still get into the tournament 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:
- If Man City win, the Europa League spot available to the FA Cup winners will instead go to the sixth-placed team in the league (as City are already in the Champions League).
- If Man United win the FA Cup, they will qualify for the Europa League group stages.
- If Man United win the cup BUT finish outside the top six, sixth place will become a Conference League spot.
United’s 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday left Chelsea in sixth. If Spurs lose on the final day and Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Bournemouth, they would finish fifth on goal difference. Conversely, if Chelsea lose and Newcastle beat Brentford, they will finish sixth. United are eighth, level on points with Newcastle and can mathematically finish six but it requires an implausible goal-difference swing.
UEFA Conference League
Teams qualified:
- Liverpool**
**Will not play in the competition because they are guaranteed a spot in the Champions League
England get one qualification spot for the UEFA Europa Conference League (which will be called just the UEFA Conference League from 2024/25). Nominally, 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 Champions League spot via their league finish. 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 19, that team is likely to be one of Chelsea or Newcastle. If Manchester United lose the FA Cup final but finish seventh they will qualify for the Conference League, with fifth and sixth going on to the Europa League.
Premier League European places as things stand
As of May 19, 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
Conference League: Chelsea
English Premier League table 2023/24
Updated before matches on Sunday, May 19, 2024
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played |
Goals Scored |
Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Manchester City | 88 | 37 | 93 | +60 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 86 | 37 | 89 | +61 |
| 3. | Liverpool | 79 | 37 | 84 | +43 |
| 4. | Aston Villa | 68 | 37 | 76 | +20 |
| 5. | Tottenham Hotspur | 63 | 37 | 71 | +10 |
| 6. | Chelsea | 60 | 37 | 75 | +13 |
| 7. | Newcastle United | 57 | 37 | 81 | +21 |
| 8. | Manchester United | 57 | 37 | 55 | -3 |
| 9. | West Ham | 52 | 37 | 59 | -12 |
| 10. | Brighton | 48 | 37 | 55 | -5 |
| 11. | Bournemouth | 48 | 37 | 53 | -12 |
| 12. | Crystal Palace | 46 | 37 | 52 | -6 |
| 13. | Wolves | 46 | 37 | 50 | -13 |
| 14. | Fulham | 44 | 37 | 51 | -8 |
| 15. | Everton* | 40 | 37 | 39 | -10 |
| 16. | Brentford | 39 | 37 | 54 | -7 |
| 17. | Nottingham Forest** | 29 | 37 | 47 | -19 |
| 18. | Luton Town | 26 | 37 | 50 | -31 |
| 19. | Burnley (R) | 24 | 37 | 32 | -36 |
| 20. | Sheffield United (R) | 16 | 37 | 35 | -66 |
*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.
