Bournemouth leads the Premier League sixth-place race after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Aston Villa's Europa League win potentially pushing them into Champions League if they finish fifth.
Bournemouth strengthened their claim to the Premier League's sixth position with a dominant 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday. The win allowed them to overtake Brentford in the standings. Aston Villa currently hold fifth place, six points ahead of the chasing pack. Sixth place guarantees at least Europa League football for the team that finishes there.
Aston Villa must finish exactly fifth to enable sixth place to qualify for the Champions League. Villa also need to win the Europa League, with a 1-0 deficit in their semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest. If Villa finish in the top four, winning the Europa League would not change England's European allocations. In that case, sixth place would instead earn the Europa League spot.
Bournemouth leads the sixth-place race with 52 points, one point clear of Brentford and Brighton. Brentford and Bournemouth have never featured in European competition before. Brighton's only prior European campaign came in the 2023-24 Europa League. Chelsea, level on points with Brighton, could gain ground with a game in hand against Nottingham Forest.
Fulham matches Chelsea's 52-point tally, while Everton and Sunderland sit on 47 points with a game in hand against Manchester City. Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Leeds remain mathematically in contention but are not considered realistic challengers. Aston Villa's hold on fifth place appears secure despite their Europa League ambitions.
Seventh place will secure a Conference League spot, regardless of Aston Villa's Europa League outcome. If England gains an extra Champions League place, the Europa League spot would shift down, affecting allocations. However, eighth place could also qualify for the Conference League under certain conditions.
If Manchester City win the FA Cup, or Chelsea win it while finishing in the top seven, seventh place would earn Europa League and eighth would take the Conference League spot. Chelsea currently sit ninth in the table. These FA Cup outcomes would shuffle the European qualification hierarchy.
There is a remote possibility that sixth place might need to lose on the final matchday to qualify for the Champions League. Brighton host Manchester United while Brentford visit Liverpool in crucial fixtures. Third-placed Manchester United led Brighton by three points on goal difference before Sunday's match.
Currently, eight English teams are set to qualify for European competitions next season. This number could rise to ten if Nottingham Forest win the Europa League and Crystal Palace claim the Conference League while finishing outside the top eight. Half the Premier League could play in Europe depending on these outcomes.