Premier League secures fifth Champions League spot for a second season running

The Premier League has secured a fifth Champions League spot for next season's competition - although that could yet rise to seven places.

A fifth-place finish will now be enough for Champions League qualification after Arsenal's 1-0 win at Sporting in the quarter-final first leg sealed the extra place.

It is the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned an additional spot, with the Premier League top of the European Performance Standings.

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Currently, Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League but Arne Slot's side are only a point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea.

However, there could be further representatives for England in next year's Champions League.

If Aston Villa, who are currently fourth, win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, then England will have six teams in Europe's top-tier competition.

The same scenario applies for Liverpool in the Champions League.

If either win a European trophy and finish in fifth, then sixth place would qualify for the Champions League. If both were to win a European trophy and finish in fifth and sixth, then seventh place would qualify for the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest could also play Champions League football next season by winning the Europa League.

Who could get second additional CL spot?

UEFA awards an additional place to two leagues, so with the Premier League guaranteed one of those, the race is on for the other spot.

Spain are on course to secure it ahead of Germany and Portugal.

How does the coefficient table work?

Each nation is awarded points based on the performance of their clubs in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Its points totals are then divided by the number of clubs it has competing in European competition, with nations ranked in the table by their average scores.

Wins are worth two coefficient points, draws are worth one, and defeats are worth none.

Additionally, bonus points are awarded according for finishing positions in the league phase tables, and progress through each knockout round.

The bonus points are far higher in the Champions League compared to the other two competitions.

The team finishing top of the Champions League phase table earns 12 bonus points, compared to six for the team finishing top of the Europa League league phase table, and four for the team finishing top of the Conference League league phase table.

How England could still have SEVEN Champions League teams...

There is a specific but very possible outcome by which England could have seven teams in next season's tournament - almost a fifth of the overall contingent in the league phase.

It would require Liverpool to win the Champions League this season while also finishing in the top five in the Premier League. Because of their qualification as holders the free spot given to their league position would pass down to the team in sixth, in theory.

If Aston Villa occupy that sixth position and win the Europa League - which they are favourites to do, according to Opta - they too would automatically qualify for the Champions League. Leaving the team in seventh, currently Brentford, to sweep up and reach Europe's premier competition as one of a record-breaking seven representatives.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Premier League secures fifth Champions League spot for a second season running