By Martin Graham
Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth remain in contention for a European place, but their chances rely on Chelsea. For any of the three to secure a spot, Chelsea must both win the Conference League and finish seventh in the Premier League. This would push their qualification for the Conference League to the team that ends the season in eighth.
As it stands, Brighton are currently in eighth after a 3-2 win over Liverpool, but both Brentford and Bournemouth could still leapfrog them on the final day. If Chelsea claim sixth instead, and Newcastle end up in seventh, the eighth-placed team would again benefit.
The final Premier League fixtures on Sunday will be decisive, with multiple outcomes still in play. Ten English clubs could potentially be competing in European tournaments next season, depending on how results unfold.
England will have six representatives in the Champions League next season. Liverpool and Arsenal have already secured their places, while the remaining three spots will go to a combination of Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City or Nottingham Forest. An additional slot will be awarded to the winner of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham.
Crystal Palace secured a Europa League place by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The sixth-placed Premier League team will also join them in that competition. Newcastle, having won the Carabao Cup, are already assured of at least a Conference League berth, but could move up to the Europa League or Champions League depending on their league position.
Chelsea face Real Betis in the Conference League final. A win there guarantees Europa League football, while a top-five league finish would take them to the Champions League instead. If they achieve both, the Conference League spot would trickle down to the eighth-placed Premier League side.
Should Chelsea lose the final or finish within the top five, the breakdown becomes straightforward: five league teams and the Europa League winner in the Champions League, Crystal Palace and the sixth-placed team in the Europa League, and seventh in the league entering the Conference League.
