Champions League Spots Nearly Locked, Europa League Race Reaches Fever Pitch
The race for Champions League qualification looks nearly settled following two dramatic injury-time winners on Sunday. Liverpool scored in the 100th minute and Aston Villa netted in the 93rd, solidifying their positions alongside Arsenal and Manchester City in the top five by season's end. A notable seven-point gap separates Liverpool in fifth from Chelsea in sixth, but the battle for Europa League and Europa Conference League spots remains fiercely competitive. Just three points now distinguish the teams from sixth to twelfth place, marking the smallest margin ever recorded on this date in the Premier League’s 34-season history. Additionally, only six points separate sixth and fourteenth places, a record that has only been matched once before in the league's inception. As it stands, the top five teams qualify for the Champions League, with Arsenal and Manchester City already assured of their spots. Manchester United, sitting third, is level on 58 points with Aston Villa, who recently triumphed over Sunderland in a thrilling 4-3 match. Both teams are 10 points clear of Chelsea, needing just six more points to secure their Champions League places. Liverpool, after a late victory over Everton with a score of 2-1, occupies fifth, holding a seven-point lead over Chelsea. The sixth-placed team will secure a Europa League spot, while seventh will land a Europa Conference League berth. The FA Cup winner also qualifies for the Europa League, but if the victor is already secured in the Champions League or Europa League, it will shift the spots down a place. The FA Cup semi-finals feature Chelsea, Manchester City, Leeds, and Championship side Southampton. Furthermore, English clubs winning any European competition this season could potentially open additional spots, allowing even ninth place to earn a position in the Europa Conference League.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-19