EPL European spot drama: What happens to teams that finish sixth, seventh

As the Premier League draws to a close on Sunday, the race for European qualification remains fierce, especially among three major teams.

Aston Villa laid claims to the last Champions League spot last week, following Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Tottenham.

This confirmed that City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Villa will all compete in the UEFA’s elite tournament next season.

However, the battle for Europa League places is still wide open.

 

Tottenham currently sit in fifth, which guarantees Europa League football, but Chelsea are hot on their heels.

With only three points separating both teams, Chelsea could leapfrog Spurs if they beat Bournemouth and Tottenham fail to secure a win or draw against relegated Sheffield United.

Sixth place also holds a Europa League berth, contingent on the outcome of the FA Cup final between Manchester United and their city rivals.

If Manchester City win the FA Cup, the sixth-placed team will enter the Europa League, and the seventh spot will qualify for the Europa Conference League.

However, if Manchester United win at Wembley, they will take the Europa League place, pushing the sixth spot to the Europa Conference League and leaving seventh out of Europe.

Newcastle, currently in seventh place, need a Manchester City victory in the FA Cup to ensure European competition.

They also stand a chance to qualify by winning their final league match against Brentford, and Chelsea lose.

As it stands, the fate of Tottenham, Chelsea, and Newcastle hinges on both their final day league results and the outcome of the May 25th FA Cup final.