Need to know
Six Premier League teams are competing in the Champions League this season but there could well be fewer representatives in next season's edition
Liverpool's name being drawn out in the Champions League round of 16 draw
Liverpool's name being drawn out in the Champions League round of 16 draw(Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Here is everything you need to know about the route to a fifth Champions League qualification spot for Premier League teams:
The rules: UEFA now awards two extra Champions League places each season to the nations whose clubs performed best in Europe during the previous year. These are known as European Performance Spots and are designed to reward the most successful leagues.
How the extra spot is awarded: League success is measured using a 'coefficient score,' which is a points-based system tracking every win and draw. Every win and draw for a Premier League club in Europe helps the entire league reach the goal of a fifth spot, with results in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League all contributing, while there are bonus points for progressing through to the latter stages.
How it gets calculated: Total points earned by all participating clubs from a country are divided by the number of teams that country sent to Europe. This ensures that the league with the most teams isn't unfairly advantaged over a league with fewer, high-performing representatives.
Who gets the extra spot: For the Premier League to get that fifth spot, England must finish in the top two of the seasonal coefficient rankings. This is what happened last season, when England produced both Europa League finalists as well as Conference League champions Chelsea.
Current status: England are in top spot after the knockout play-off round, sitting comfortably ahead of Germany in second. However, a lot can still change between now and the end of the season.
Nightmare scenario: Six Premier League teams have reached the last 16 of the Champions League but a number of them have been handed tough draws. Chelsea will face holders Paris Saint-Germain, with Manchester City facing 2024 winners Real Madrid and Newcastle up against Barcelona, meaning they could be knocked out of the competition in the next round and lose the opportunity to earn further points for their nation.
How English clubs are affected: Once an extra spot is secured, it goes to the highest-ranked team in the domestic table that hasn't already qualified for the Champions League. This effectively turns fifth place into a Champions League qualifying position, with Newcastle United benefiting from this scenario last term.
Who could be impacted this season: There could be a knock-on effect on the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Just three points separate the trio in the Premier League, with the teams currently fourth, fifth and sixth respectively - any one of the three could end up in fifth spot and needing a helping hand from their rivals.
Can English teams qualify any other way? In rare cases, a country could even have six or seven teams if English clubs win the Champions League and/or Europa League while finishing lower than fifth domestically. These trophy-winner spots are separate from the performance spots, and Spurs' Europa League win last season earned England its sixth spot.
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