As the 2024-25 Premier League season nears its conclusion, the race to qualify for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League is intensifying. With Liverpool already crowned champions and securing one of the coveted spots, five other teams are in a fierce battle for the remaining four places in Europe’s top competition.
Why Are Five Teams Qualifying?
This season, England has been granted an additional Champions League spot thanks to strong performances from its clubs in UEFA competitions. As a result, the top five teams in the Premier League will earn a Champions League berth, replacing the usual four spots.
Furthermore, if Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur win the UEFA Europa League this season, they will also automatically qualify for the Champions League, bringing the potential for up to six English clubs in the competition.
The Teams in the Fight
Currently, Arsenal sit second in the table but have been struggling with form in recent weeks. They've won only once in their last six games and will need to secure a couple more points to cement their Champions League qualification. Their next match is against Newcastle, a team that’s also in the hunt and could leapfrog Arsenal into second with a win.
Newcastle are on a strong run after defeating Chelsea 1-0, which helped them climb to third place. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who had been in second, dropped to fourth after a surprise goalless draw against Southampton, who are at the bottom of the table.
Chelsea, despite their recent defeat to Newcastle, are still in the race but have dropped to fifth. Right behind them are Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. Villa have been in excellent form lately, with crucial upcoming matches against Manchester United and Tottenham, while Forest’s hopes are dwindling after just one win in their last six games. They were held to a draw by Leicester City recently and face challenging fixtures against West Ham and Chelsea.
With only two matchdays left, the gap between the teams in third through seventh place is just four points, leaving the race wide open.
Can Eighth Place Still Qualify for the UCL?
In a twist, Manchester City could play a decisive role in the qualification race. If City win the FA Cup against Crystal Palace and finish in the top five, their Europa League spot from the FA Cup victory will be passed down to the next best-placed team in the league.
This means that even finishing as low as eighth place could be enough to secure a European spot next season. This scenario gives hope to clubs like Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, and Fulham, all of whom are vying for that eighth-place finish. In fact, Brentford and Fulham will face off in a crucial clash on May 18, which could have a major impact on the race for Europe.