The Premier League season reaches its final day on May 24 with the title already decided, and relegation largely settled, but the battle for Europe remains open.
Four places across the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League are still to be confirmed, with nine clubs still involved in the calculations heading into the last round of fixtures.
Sporting Tribune profiles the nine clubs still in the race for Europe.
Champions League picture
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa have already secured Champions League qualification, ensuring four English representatives in Europe’s elite competition next season.
Liverpool are in control of the fifth and final Champions League spot, sitting ahead of the chasing pack after benefiting from England’s UEFA coefficient ranking.
Liverpool are three points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth, who can still mathematically overtake them, although goal difference also works in Liverpool’s favour.
Bournemouth, however, are already guaranteed European football next season regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
Behind them, Brighton remain in contention for a top-five finish, while the fight for the remaining European positions continues to tighten across the table.
The EPS factor
This season’s European qualification structure has added another layer of complexity. The The
Premier League has secured an additional Champions League place through UEFA’s European Performance Spots (EPS) system, which rewards leagues based on collective performances in continental competitions.
That extra slot is expected to go to Liverpool unless there is a late swing on the final day. The key implication is that finishing positions beyond fifth could still influence Champions League qualification depending on how results fall.
Europa League and Conference League
The race for seventh and eighth place remains wide open, with Brighton, Chelsea, Brentford and Sunderland all separated by fine margins. Brighton currently occupy seventh, with Chelsea just behind, while Brentford and Sunderland remain within reach of European qualification.
Chelsea’s recent win over Tottenham has strengthened their position, while Brentford’s draw with Crystal Palace and Sunderland’s victory over Everton have kept both sides alive heading into the final day.
With only a small gap separating seventh from tenth, every result on Sunday carries weight, with European football still within reach for several mid-table clubs.
What each position means
Seventh place is expected to carry a Europa League spot, while eighth would likely secure Conference League qualification, depending on how domestic cup allocations and European spots are redistributed.
Normally, FA Cup and League Cup winners determine some of these places, but with Manchester City’s qualification for the Champions League through league position, those places are passed down the table, keeping the race open.
Final day implications
Liverpool host Brentford, Bournemouth travel to Nottingham Forest, Brighton face Manchester United, Chelsea play Sunderland, and Brentford and Sunderland also meet direct competition above them in the table.
With nine clubs still able to influence European qualification, the final day is set to decide not just who finishes in the top five, but who secures a place in continental football next season.
