How 11 Premier League teams could qualify for Europe

Eleven Premier League teams in Europe? It sounds preposterous, but it is possible.

Qualification for European competition has become pretty complicated in the past few seasons.

This has largely been caused by the new European Performance Spots (EPS).

These are the extra places in the Champions League given to the two leagues with the best overall record each season.

The Premier League secured one of the two berths for 2026-27 after Arsenal won 1-0 at Sporting on Tuesday.

It means there will be at least eight English teams in Europe next season.

But what happens if an English team wins one of the European competitions?

Could there be seven teams in the Champions League? And 11 teams in Europe?

The logic of the EPS is simple. But other factors complicate matters.

It has two pillars: it is applied after all other considerations about domestic and European cup winners; it always provides one additional place to the overall allocation.

So England was set to have seven teams in Europe before the EPS - but now will have at least eight.

As it stands - and subject to who wins the FA Cup - that now means this:

• The team finishing fifth will go into the Champions League

• The team finishing sixth will go into the Europa League

• The team finishing seventh will go into the Conference League

It looks like being an exceptionally tight race for fifth place, which is currently held by Liverpool on 49 points.

Just seven points separate Arne Slot's side from 13th-placed Bournemouth.

Chelsea (48) sit in sixth followed by Brentford (46), Everton (46), Fulham (44), Brighton (43), Sunderland (43), Newcastle (42) and Bournemouth (42).

If Liverpool win the Champions League and finish in the top four, then nothing changes in terms of England's European spots. There will still be five teams in the Champions League, and eight in Europe.

The place reserved for the Champions League titleholders will pass to the league champions in qualifying with the best Uefa coefficient.

That is likely to be Rangers if they win the Scottish Premiership.

If Liverpool finish outside the top four, the Premier League will have six teams in the Champions League:

• The top four

• Liverpool as holders

• The EPS

Liverpool's precise final position will decide the Premier League's total European allocation.

If Liverpool finish fifth, where they are now, the EPS passes to the Premier League's sixth-placed team.

The Premier League would then surrender a place in the Europa League. Overall, England would still have eight European places.