The Premier League season is edging toward its climax, with a host of clubs battling to secure places in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), UEFA Europa League (UEL) and UEFA Conference League (UCoL).
Yet there are a whole host of clauses and considerations that could affect where the places go.
First of all, the Premier League will have five teams in the UCL next season after it secured one of the extra places for performance by clubs across the three competitions.
But what happens to the places reserved for the domestic cups?
And what does it mean if any English clubs lift a European trophy?
Here's your guide to European qualification in the Premier League.
This article will be updated through to the end of the season as more details emerge.
What's the usual allocation for the Premier League?
At the start of every season, the Premier League's European allocation is:
Champions League: Places 1-4
Europa League: 5, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Carabao Cup winners
But now there's an extra place in the Champions League?
The two leagues with the best set of collective results in European competition get a fifth team in the Champions League through the European Performance Spots (EPS).
It was confirmed on April 8 -- through Arsenal's 3-0 win over Real Madrid -- that the Premier League will get one of the two EPS.
The extra place goes to fifth in the league.
For the final positions in the 2024-25 season, to qualify for Europe the positions are now:
Champions League: 1-5 (Liverpool are confirmed)
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Carabao Cup winners
What does Newcastle winning the Carabao Cup mean?
Newcastle United are guaranteed a place in the Conference League after they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final on March 16.
So that makes the allocation:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
However, where Newcastle finish in the table could impact the allocation.
If the Magpies qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League, the Conference League place transfers to the Premier League.
So, if Newcastle finish in the top six, as it stands the Conference League place passes to seventh.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: 7
This is now looking possible as Newcastle are in fifth place -- but there's only a two-point gap to seventh.
There's influence from the FA Cup too.
How about the FA Cup?
There are four teams left in the FA Cup: Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. (Stream the semifinals on April 26-27 on ESPN+)
The winners of the competition qualify for the Europa League.
If Palace (12th) win the FA Cup, then it's pretty certain the league places will be unaltered:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, Crystal Palace
Conference League: Newcastle United
But if the FA Cup winners finish in the top six, the place for the FA Cup transfers to the league. This could happen if Forest (fourth), Man City (third) or Aston Villa (seventh) lift the trophy.
That would mean seventh place plays in the Europa League by league performance.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, 7
Conference League: Newcastle United
However, if both Newcastle and the winners of the FA Cup finish inside the top seven, a Europa League place goes to seventh and the allocation for the Conference League drops down another place to eighth:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, 7
Conference League: 8
It's still possible that Man City, Forest or Villa finish outside the top six (or even eighth or lower). If that happens, the places will be unaltered:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
However, if Man City, Forest or Villa win the FA Cup and finish seventh that means Newcastle are likely to be in the top six -- which pushes their Conference League place to eighth:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners 7th
Conference League: 8
What happens to the EPS if a Premier League team wins a European competition?
The EPS is applied after all the usual rebalancing related to the winners of domestic competitions and the three European competitions.
In all circumstances, the EPS provides a plus-1 to a league's allocation -- so the Premier League will have eight teams minimum. But it could be up to 11, though for this season it's now 10. But how?
What's the maximum number of teams in the Champions League?
Seven: the top four spots, the extra place for the EPS plus the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League if they finish outside the domestic places and qualify as titleholders.
What if Arsenal win the Champions League?
If Arsenal (second) win the Champions League and finish inside the top four (the latter of which is almost certain), the places are unaltered. The spot in the Champions League reserved for the holders, which Arsenal would not need, goes to the highest-ranked team in the playoff round.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
For illustration purposes, if Arsenal win the Champions League and finish fifth, the Premier League would have six teams in the Champions League (the top four, the EPS and Arsenal) and it would surrender the place in the Europa League designated for Arsenal by league position. Only the FA Cup winners would play in the UEL.
Champions League: 1-6
Europa League: FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
If Arsenal finished sixth, the Premier League would have a ninth team in Europe, as they would not -- as it stands -- be in a domestic European place. Once the EPS is applied the Europa League place passes over Arsenal to seventh.
Champions League: 1-5, Arsenal as UCL winners
Europa League: 7, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
Yet this can all be complicated by the final position of Newcastle and/or the FA Cup winners, which would push qualification down a place or two.
For instance, if Newcastle United finish inside the top five, plus Arsenal finish sixth and win the UCL. Arsenal would now be in the Conference League place, which is surrendered. However, once the EPS is applied this sends the Europa League spot to eighth.
Champions League: 1-5, Arsenal as UCL winners (6)
Europa League: 8, FA Cup winners
Conference League: --
But if the FA Cup winners also finish inside the top six and Arsenal finish fifth or sixth, it's a place in the Europa League which is surrendered. Yet the EPS still pushes one Europa League place to seventh, and the Conference League to eighth.
Champions League: 1-5, Arsenal as UCL winners
Europa League: 7
Conference League: 8
What if a Premier League team wins the Europa League?
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are both in the semifinals of the Europa League, with the winners earning a place in the Champions League for next season.
Neither team will finish in a European position domestically, with Man United in 14th, 19 points off seventh with 15 points to play for. Spurs are a further two places and another point further back.
Therefore, either team winning the UEL would provide a ninth team in Europe, and six in the Champions League.
Champions League: 1-5, Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
If Arsenal also were to win the UCL and finish outside the top four, this would mean seven Premier League teams in the Champions League.
Champions League: 1-5 or 6, Arsenal as UCL winners, Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners
What if Chelsea win the Conference League?
This could prove crucial for one Premier League club, as it's Chelsea's performance in the Conference League, coupled with their final league position, which has the greatest chance to benefit another team (more detail on this in a later section.)
Chelsea sit in sixth place, level on points with seventh-placed Villa.
By rights, the winners of the Conference League get a place in the Europa League. If Chelsea lift the trophy and finish inside the top five, there will be no change to the allocation.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
If Chelsea win the Conference League and finish sixth, the Premier League gets an extra team in the Europa League, and nine in Europe. Once the EPS is applied, the Europa League place originally for fifth goes to the team in seventh.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 7, FA Cup winners, Chelsea as UCoL winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
However, if Newcastle finish inside the top five, thus passing the Conference League place to sixth and Chelsea finish in that place, the Premier League surrenders the berth in the Conference League and Chelsea play in the Europa League. Again, the UEL place makes a jump and goes to seventh. The Premier League would have three teams in the UEL and eight in Europe.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 7, FA Cup winners, Chelsea as UCoL winners
Conference League: --
Now let's add to the last scenario Newcastle and the FA Cup winners finishing inside the top six, with Chelsea sixth. There is no change to the Europa League allocation, as Chelsea in sixth have finished in a domestic UEL qualifying position. The EPS still sends a Europa League place to seventh, and the Conference League place to eighth.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, 7
Conference League: 8
How 11 Premier League clubs could qualify for Europe -- but not this season
This all depends on where the clubs finish in the league, of course, but each European titleholder is guaranteed a place in Europe. As above, if any team finishes in a European place domestically, there is no additional place. However, if a team does not qualify from domestic competition, it's an extra place for the titleholders on top of the league allocation -- even if all three were to do so.
So that means it's possible, though highly improbable, for the Premier League to have 11 teams in Europe. It would require Arsenal to win the UCL, Man United or Tottenham to win the UEL, and Chelsea the Conference League and all three finish outside the top six:
Champions League: 1-5, Arsenal as UCL winners, Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners, as Chelsea as UCoL winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
If Newcastle were to finish in the top six, or the FA Cup winners do so, that shifts the places down by one or two and makes it even more unlikely.
So realistically the maximum in Europe is 10 this season?
Yes, because it would be quite the collapse for Arsenal not to finish in a domestic European place. Or in fact the top four.
For 10 to qualify, it would require Man United or Tottenham to win the UEL, and Chelsea the Conference League, and both to finish outside the top six:
Champions League: 1-5, Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners, as Chelsea as UCoL winners
Conference League: Newcastle United
As above, if Newcastle were to finish in the top six, or the FA Cup winners do so, that shifts the places down by one or two.
How ninth in the Premier League could qualify for Europe
For clubs hovering around ninth in the table, the performance of Chelsea is going to be very important. They are the only team who could win a European title and finish in a position to cause this drop down.
We need to assume Newcastle United and the FA Cup winners have finished inside the top six.
This is the allocation before the EPS:
Champions League: 1-4
Europa League: 5, 6
Conference League: 7
Let's say Chelsea (though it can be any of the teams in Europe) win the Conference League and finish in eighth place -- one below the Conference League spot. Next season, Chelsea play in the Europa League as UCoL titleholders, and the Premier League has eight teams in Europe.
Champions League: 1-4
Europa League: 5, 6, Chelsea as UCoL winners (8)
Conference League: 7
Now the EPS is applied with fifth in the UCL, and this creates the plus-1 in all scenarios. The European places drop down one, but as Chelsea already have a place in the Europa League, the Conference League spot "jumps" over them and goes to ninth.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, 7, Chelsea as UCoL winners (8)
Conference League: 9
The same logic can be applied to Man United/Tottenham winning a European title. If they finish eighth, it creates the same "jump." However, for this season it's highly unlikely to apply with Man United and Tottenham so far down the table.
If multiple European titleholders are in consecutive places outside the domestic spots, this can create two or three "jumps." This is the effect of two teams winning European titles and finishing eighth and ninth -- 10th gets the Conference League spot after the EPS is applied. Let's take Chelsea and Man United/Tottenham:
Champions League: 1-5, Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners (9)
Europa League: 6, 7, Chelsea as UCoL winners (8)
Conference League: 10
At the start of each season it's technically possible for 11th to qualify for Europe by league position, but that would require the European title winners to finish in eighth, ninth and 10th. Arsenal clearly will not finish this low in the table.
This is how, hypothetically, it could work.
Champions League: 1-5, Arsenal as UCL winners (8), Man United/Tottenham as UEL winners (10)
Europa League: 6, 7, Chelsea as UCoL winners (9)
Conference League: 11
More likely: eighth could qualify for the Europa League by league position
This is like the previous scenario, the difference being the first European titleholder finishes in the Conference League position, which is surrendered.
When the EPS is applied, it's the Europa League place which makes the "jump," rather than the Conference League place.
Let's say Chelsea win the Conference League and finish seventh, which is a more realistic outcome, with all European places going to the league. Chelsea would play in the Europa League, and the Premier League would give up Chelsea's place in the Conference League. Add the EPS, and the Europa League place for 6th position jumps over Chelsea and is given to eighth.
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, Chelsea as UCoL winners (7), 8
Conference League: -
Again, the Europa League place could technically drop to ninth (or hypothetically tenth) if European title winners finish in consecutive positions.