Newcastle United are hoping to be one of six Premier League teams competing in the Champions League next season.
Newcastle host Everton at St James’ Park on Sunday knowing a win will guarantee a top-five finish. Anything less will leave Eddie Howe’s side relying on results elsewhere.
Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night saw the Magpies drop from third to fourth in the Premier League table, with just three points separating Pep Guardiola’s side and seventh place Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle are level on 66 points with Chelsea and Aston Villa but are ahead on goal difference while Forest are seventh on 65 points. Chelsea face Forest at the City Ground, Aston Villa visit Manchester United and Man City are away to Fulham.
As mentioned, a win against Everton will secure Champions League qualification, as would equalling Villa’s result at Old Trafford. A draw would also be enough if Forest and Chelsea draw.
Why do five teams qualify through the Premier League for next season’s Champions League?
Due to the performances of Premier League clubs across UEFA competitions this season, England and Spain have been guaranteed a top-two spot in UEFA's association club coefficient rankings, which earns a "European Performance Spot" (EPS).
Arsenal and Aston Villa reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Champions League, respectively, while Liverpool got to the last 16. All teams were beaten by French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
In the Europa League, both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur reached the final, while Chelsea also made it all the way to the final the Europa Conference League.
“Every win for a club in any of UEFA's club competitions this season earns each league two points, while a draw gets one point, and there are no points for a defeat,” the Premier League explained.
“On top of that, bonus points are awarded according to where each club finish in their European league table. These are weighted according to the competition. For example, finishing top of the table in the Champions League gets you 12 bonus points, while finishing top of the Europa League gets you six, and the top team in the Conference League get four.”
“Additional bonus points are awarded for reaching each round from the last 16 onwards. These are also weighted according to the competition.”
This means that as well as the top four-placed teams in the Premier League, the club finishing fifth will also go straight into the Champions League next season.
Not five but six Premier League teams in the Champions League next season
In addition, the winners of the Europa League are awarded a place in the 2025-26 Champions League, if they have not already qualified through their league positions.
And after Wednesday night’s final, it has now been confirmed that six English teams will play in the same Champions League for the first time.
It’s been a season to forget domestically for both Tottenham and Manchester United as they sit 17th and 16th in the Premier League respectively but all is forgotten at Spurs after they won 1-0 in Bilbao to end their 17-year trophy drought and qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
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