As the Premier League season reaches its conclusion, the title race is long settled — but the battle for European qualification is anything but. With just one round of fixtures remaining, no fewer than seven clubs are still in limbo, uncertain whether they’ll be playing Champions League football next season or missing out on Europe altogether. Nearly half of the league could feature in UEFA competitions during the 2025–26 campaign.Only three more teams can join Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs in the Champions League next season.Who will make it? pic.twitter.com/w1VckRqZfE— Premier League (@premierleague) May 25, 2025 Champions League PictureLiverpool and Arsenal have locked in their spots at the summit of European football, but three of England’s five Champions League berths are still undecided. Thanks to strong performances by English clubs across Europe this season, the Premier League has earned a bonus fifth place — dubbed the “European Performance Spot.”Tottenham have already booked their seat via their Europa League triumph on Wednesday night, so six English clubs will be in UEFA’s revamped 36-team Champions League format.That leaves three spots to be filled from Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest. City will clinch their place with a win or draw against Fulham. Meanwhile, Newcastle face Everton at home, and Villa travel to Manchester United.Matchday 38/38. COME ON YOU REDS! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/L9224TFWW0— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 25, 2025 All eyes will be on the clash at the City Ground, where Forest host Chelsea. A win for Forest could seal a Europa League berth or — if other results go their way — even open the door to the Champions League. Chelsea must win on the road to stay in contention for a top-tier European place.Europa League stakesCrystal Palace have claimed one of England’s Europa League slots, having stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The remaining place goes to the sixth-placed team in the league — a position still hotly contested by City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Villa, and Forest.They waited 120 years for this, literally – Crystal Palace has won the first trophy in their history!Conference League ChaosNewcastle have at least secured a place in the Conference League after lifting the Carabao Cup. But the final allocation of UEFA’s third-tier competition — and the rest of the European places — hinges on the outcome of next Wednesday’s Conference League final between Chelsea and Real Betis.If Chelsea win the trophy and finish in the top five, they’ll move up to the Champions League, and their Europa League slot will not trickle down to anyone else. However, if they win the final and finish sixth, and Newcastle come seventh, then England will receive an extra Europa League place — which would go to Newcastle. The team finishing eighth would then earn a Conference League spot.The 2025 Conference League final is set: Real Betis vs Chelsea 🤩#UECL pic.twitter.com/ir9wQVMkEM— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) May 8, 2025 Should Chelsea win the Conference League but finish seventh instead, sixth place would take the extra Europa League spot, and eighth would again qualify for the Conference League.As a result, Brighton (away at Tottenham) and Brentford (visiting Wolves) still have something to fight for. Depending on how things unfold, up to 10 Premier League teams could be competing in Europe next season — a fittingly chaotic finish to a rollercoaster campaign.PREMIER LEAGUE – FINAL MATCHDAYSunday18:00: (1.35) Bournemouth (5.60) Leicester (9.00)18:00: (5.40) Fulham (4.25) Manchester City (1.60)18:00: (3.10) Ipswich (3.80) West Ham (2.25)18:00: (1.42) Liverpool (5.60) Crystal Palace (6.75)18:00: (5.00) Manchester United (3.70) Aston Villa (1.72)18:00: (1.35) Newcastle (5.50) Everton (10.0)18:00: (3.35) Nottingham Forest (3.50) Chelsea (2.25)18:00: (9.00) Southampton (5.80) Arsenal (1.30)18:00: (4.10) Tottenham (4.70) Brighton (1.75)18:00: (3.00) Wolverhampton (3.50) Brentford (2.30)***odds are subject to change***
