Get out the calculators. As unlikely as it may seem, some Premier League clubs would have everything to lose on the final day of the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League next season, according to BBC Sport. This anomaly is due to a specific UEFA regulation.
Thanks to their European performances, the Premier League is already assured of sending five clubs to the Champions League next season. But if Aston Villa finishes 5th in the league and wins the Europa League, 6th place, currently held by Bournemouth, would also qualify for the Champions League. With three games left in the league, eight clubs can still mathematically hope for this place, and two of them, the Cherries and Brentford, have never competed in European competitions.
Ten English clubs qualified for European competition next season?
Therefore, it is likely that the team in sixth place before the final day will have to lose to clinch a spot in the Champions League. Brighton faces Manchester United, in third place, while Brentford travels to Liverpool, in fourth place. If the Seagulls or Bees were certain to keep sixth place even in case of a loss – as they could rely on a win from their opponents to keep Villa in fifth place – this could allow them to reach the Champions League rather than the Europa League.
One more crazy thing, if Nottingham Forest wins the Europa League and Crystal Palace wins the Conference League (without finishing among the top seven or eight), then the top ten teams in the English league will be represented in Europe next season.
Sorry for the headache.
