How Seven Premier League Teams Could Qualify for UCL

Published: 21 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Liverpool’s 10th defeat of the 2025-26 Premier League season came at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on March 21, leaving them in fifth place and just one point above Chelsea, who have a game in hand. The result casts serious doubt over their chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Yet, while Liverpool faces disappointment, other Premier League clubs could benefit from the ongoing season’s unique circumstances. England currently leads UEFA’s coefficient rankings, meaning the nation could secure a fifth European Performance Spot (EPS) for the following season under the new Swiss Model format. The top two performing countries in UEFA competitions—including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—earn additional spots based on club success in continental tournaments.

This scenario opens the door to an extraordinary possibility: up to seven Premier League teams qualifying for the Champions League next season. Key to this outcome are the performances of Aston Villa and Liverpool in European competitions. If Aston Villa wins the Europa League, they earn automatic qualification, regardless of their league position. Similarly, a Champions League triumph would secure Liverpool a spot even if they finish fifth or sixth.

Should both clubs achieve these feats while ending the season outside the traditional top-four, a seventh team from the Premier League could also enter the Champions League, a historic expansion for English football. However, this outcome would have knock-on effects on other European qualifications. Depending on league positions, a Conference League berth might disappear, or one of the Europa League spots could be reduced, pushing the eighth-placed team into European competition instead.

The possibility of seven Premier League representatives in Europe’s premier club competition highlights the growing influence of English clubs on continental football and demonstrates how strong performances in UEFA tournaments can reshape qualification dynamics for domestic leagues.

As the season reaches its climax, fans and clubs alike will monitor both domestic and European results closely, knowing that historic opportunities and high-stakes drama are still very much alive in English football.