A detailed look at how Brighton can qualify for Europe next season
Brighton hope to continue their late push for Europe as they resume Premier League action at Burnley this Saturday.
Fabian Hurzeler's men have won four of their last five top flight fixtures and are 10th on 43 points.
As it stands, 10th could be enough to see them compete in European football next term. Brighton are still very much in the hunt, but as always it's not quite that straight-forward. Here's my best stab at the various permutations as the Premier League enters it's final furlong.
Five Champions League places
Arsenal's Champions League win at Sporting last night boosted the Premier League's coefficient rankings, a points system that rewards the strong performances of English clubs in Europe.
The Premier League will now receive five Champions League places, which sees the top five qualify for the Champions League. Sixth grabs a Europa League birth and seventh, as it stands, is a Europa Conference League spot.
Ok, so far good. Stick with me here as domestic and European cup competitions make things a bit uncertain. It means European qualification could even extend down to as far as 11th place!
Man City’s spot is passed down
Manchester City won the Carabao Cup, and therefore qualify for the Conference League. However, they will - barring an almighty collapse - finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League, meaning that spot will be passed further down the table.
Then we get to the FA Cup. Should City or Chelsea win and also finish in the top six, then the Europa League spot is again passed further down the final league standings. That option is though void if Leeds or Southampton win as they are out of the European places.
Ok, got that. Breath. Because here we go again.
European cup confusion
Europe adds another layer of confusion. Say Liverpool win the Champions League (it could happen) and finish in the top five, it stays the same. But if they win and end up outside the top five, it knocks everything down the table once more.
Here's another scenario. If Aston Villa triumph in the the Europa League and finish outside the top five, it could make it seven English teams in the Champions League, if Liverpool win the Champions League. Also, if Crystal Palace won the Conference League - and finish outside of a Europa League spot - then their place is passed down. Hmmm!
What it means for Brighton
So, if results and permutations go Brighton's way then 10th or even 11th could see them qualify for Europe next term. That would though require a remarkable set of results - Liverpool and Aston Villa would both need to win their European competitions and finish outside the top five. Palace would have to win the Conference League and finish outside the top six.
Brighton are in the hunt
The most likely outcome is that the top seven or eight in the Premier League will be in Europe next term and Hurzeler's men are well in the mix for that.
Brighton are just five points behind sixth placed Chelsea and three points adrift from seven placed Brentford and eighth placed Everton.
Fulham are one point ahead on 44 points, with 11th placed Sunderland behind Albion on goal difference. Just seven points separate fifth from 13th.
Burnley (a), Tottenham (a), Chelsea (h), Newcastle (a), Wolves (h), Leeds (a), Man United (h).
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