Everton’s Champions League hopes have been bolstered with at least five Premier League teams set to qualify for next season’s tournament.
The Premier League secured an additional European Performance Spot (EPS) after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Sporting CP in the first leg of their quarter-final in Lisbon. This win ensured that England will finish among Uefa's top two leagues in this season's coefficient rankings.
Everton, in their quest for Europe, remain alive in the race to secure the fifth Champions League spot. Liverpool are currently 5th in the table with 49 points, just one point above Chelsea. Brentford and Everton are only 3 points behind at 7th and 8th respectively.
The Toffees will return to Premier League action with clashes scheduled against Brentford and Liverpool over the next 2 weeks. These two matches could probably end up deciding their fate with regards to Champions League qualification.
It is the second straight season that the Premier League has earned an additional spot after Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle Utd all took part in Europe’s premier competition this time. Meanwhile, Tottenham, winners of the Europa League, also joined the group as the sixth team from England.
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Reader Comments (20)
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2 Posted 08/04/2026 at 21:00:50
The Beeb are all over it:
3 Posted 08/04/2026 at 21:04:25
I don't want the Red Shite sneaking Europe!
4 Posted 08/04/2026 at 21:08:02
You know what is coming next.
Our keeper, the England keeper, not mentioned anywhere. Not even " an honourable mention". Needs to play in the Saudi League to earn that accolade.
5 Posted 08/04/2026 at 21:12:27
That will be hard to avoid if it all falls into place.
6 Posted 08/04/2026 at 21:42:49
He has kept us up with crucial saves and is not even on the list, very disgraceful!
7 Posted 08/04/2026 at 22:05:09
Jamie O'Hara has named a Top 5 in the World list with Jordan Pickford at number 5.
8 Posted 09/04/2026 at 02:27:24
So what happens then? TFG have to choose who gets to miss out entirely?
9 Posted 09/04/2026 at 08:51:06
We missed out to that lot once or twice, I think.
10 Posted 09/04/2026 at 09:44:41
Just seen that. I'm not surprised Pickford hasn't got a mention, because that site is run by Red Shite fans.
Alison one of the best in the world? He's made of glass. You don't see Pickford missing too many games for us through injury. I'd love to know what they watch, the love-fest is off the scale.
Anyway, fuck them. We all know how good he's been, so that's all that matters.
11 Posted 10/04/2026 at 03:47:26
We can spend 85% of revenue on football-related costs if we are not in Europe next season; if we qualify, we are subject to the Uefa limit of 70%.
During January, it was clear that TFG did not want to spend money on the squad that could aid our push for Europe. This is likely the reason.
Of course, they could have made a big push to give us a squad to challenge for a Champions League slot, as that gets you nine times the revenue of the European Conference League.
If Villa win the Europa League, then 6th place will qualify for the Champions League.
12 Posted 10/04/2026 at 04:14:05
13 Posted 10/04/2026 at 06:54:19
Short-term pain of Uefa fines and a need for a bigger squad, blocking progress.
14 Posted 10/04/2026 at 08:04:46
Uefa and Premier League rules are constructed to maintain the status quo for the wealthier clubs.
15 Posted 10/04/2026 at 09:16:20
I wish it was true but, if Aston Villa win the Europa League, the 6th club in the Premier League don't qualify for the Champions League.
Because of the success of English clubs in Europe, next season we get an extra place, so instead of 4th position in the Premier League qualifying, the Top 5 will now qualify.
I think were people are making the mistake is that many are saying we might have 6 clubs in the Champions League – and we might… but only if an English club wins the Europa League.
16 Posted 10/04/2026 at 13:06:06
Beat Brentford and Liverpool and it’s on.
17 Posted 10/04/2026 at 15:13:16
If Aston Villa win the Europa League, the 6th club in the Premier League don't qualify for the Champions League.
But then, in the same post, you say:
We might have 6 clubs in the Champions League – and we might… but only if an English club wins the Europa League.
Whereas I'm reading this in The Telegraph:
Should Aston Villa win the Europa League (without an English Champions League winner) and finish outside the Top 4, then they will qualify for the Champions League and the EPS place will drop to 6th.
It's all conjecture at this point in time... but some of the conjecture seems to be more possible than other bits, methinks?
18 Posted 10/04/2026 at 15:18:27
If Aston Villa win the Europa League and Liverpool win the Champions League, and finish 5th and 6th in the Premier League, they will both take up the protected European champions qualification spots and the EPS place will drop down to 7th.
19 Posted 11/04/2026 at 03:56:46
20 Posted 11/04/2026 at 08:03:36
Whatever happens, its nailed on we'll be in some sort of mega 'Group of Death'
Win the next 2 games and worry about it then.
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1 Posted 08/04/2026 at 20:38:44
Carabao Cup - Man City won it. They've all but locked in a Champions League spot, so add a Premier League spot for the Europa Conference League. That's 6 European spots next season.
FA Cup - Winner gets Europa League spot. Man City and Chelsea still in it. I'm rooting for Man City, because of their excellent position to play in the Champions League next season. That would make 7 European spots.
If Nottm Forest or Aston Villa go through to win the Europa League, that adds a 6th Champions League position for the Premier League and an 8th European spot added.
If Crystal Palace win the Conference League, that's another European spot opening... which would make 9***
Of course, the direct route into Europe for us will be to keep winning games. Still, there's several paths in play towards European competition.
*** I believe there is a path to a 10th position, but my head hurts.