Premier League final day permutations: The race for European football and how eighth can still get Conference League | OneFootball

There is still plenty to play for on the final day of the Premier League campaign with several European slots to be decided.

Only three clubs know which competition they will be playing in next season, with both Arsenal and title winners Liverpool confirming their place in the Champions League through the Premier League. Crystal Palace will also play in the Europa League after winning the FA Cup.

One of Tottenham and Manchester United, meanwhile, will qualify for the Champions League depending on who wins the Europa League final.

The current top seven are guaranteed European football but the order will be decided on Sunday. There is also a possibility that eighth place, not seventh, will be enough to make the Conference League, should Chelsea drop to seventh but then beat Real Betis in the final of UEFA’s third tier competition next week.

Here’s where each of those in the hunt could end up…

Man City – 3rd, 68 points, +26 GD

City picked up a massive win against Bournemouth on Tuesday in what was Kevin De Bruyne’s final game at the Etihad Stadium. Their goal difference means a point on the final day against Fulham will guarantee their place in the top five and the Champions League.

But a defeat opens the door for others to overtake them. Should Fulham beat them and Aston Villa, Newcastle and Chelsea all win too, they would drop into the Europa League.

Newcastle – 4th, 66 points, +22 GD

Newcastle know a win at home to Everton would guarantee them Champions League football. A draw could also be enough, unless there is a winner in Nottingham Forest v Chelsea and Aston Villa also win. A loss and Villa winning would see them drop out of the Champions League places, however, and into the Europa League.

Chelsea – 5th, 66 points, +20 GD

A win over Nottingham Forest would basically guarantee Chelsea a place in the Champions League due to their superior goal difference over Aston Villa. A draw could also be enough, unless Newcastle win or draw and Aston Villa win, whereas a defeat would mean they have to hope Villa also lose to Man Utd or else would miss out on Champions League football.

Villa winning, Forest beating Chelsea, and Newcastle preserving their superior goal difference over the Blues means they would finish seventh.

Aston Villa – 6th, 66 points, +9 GD

Villa need other results to go their way. A win at home to Manchester United and one of Man City losing, Newcastle losing or drawing, or Chelsea losing or drawing would see them qualify for the Champions League. A draw could also be enough but they would need Newcastle to lose and Forest v Chelsea to end in a draw. Defeat means they cannot get Champions League, and would finish in sixth or seventh.

Nottingham Forest – 7th, 65 points, +13 GD

Forest know they must beat fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea at home to stand any chance of making the top five. Even then, it would only be enough if one of Newcastle lose or draw or Aston Villa lose or draw.

Brighton – 8th, 58 points, +4 GD & Brentford – 9th, 55 points, +9 GD

The only way Brighton can get into the Conference League is by Chelsea dropping down to seventh in the league and then winning the Conference League. This would see the Blues make the Europa League through that competition, with their Conference League spot through the league then dropping to eighth.

A point will seal eighth spot for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, but a defeat at Tottenham and Brentford winning away at Wolves would see the the Bees finish eighth instead.