Either Tottenham or Chelsea could miss out on Champions League next term even if they finish fourth

  • Liverpool are strong favourites to reach Champions League final against Roma
  • Arsenal face Atletico Madrid for Europa League final spot after draw at Emirates
  • There is a very small chance Chelsea and Tottenham may finish above Liverpool
  • But if that happens, either side may still miss out on Champions League football

With the business end of the season fast approaching, things are really hotting up regarding Champions League qualification for next term.

Despite top four in England looking nearly finalised, there is a nightmare scenario for either Tottenham or Chelsea that could see one of them miss out on Champions League football if they finish fourth.

Should both the London teams finish above Liverpool in the top four, and the Reds and Arsenal both win the Champions League and Europa League in May, that would leave England with six teams ‘qualified’ for Europe’s top competition next term.

Either Tottenham or Chelsea could miss out on Champions League even if they finish fourth 

But UEFA rules outline that an association is allowed no more than five teams in the Champions League, meaning the fourth-placed team in the Premier League would drop into the second tier of Europe.

However, there is only a very small chance that this could happen with Chelsea needing a lot of luck to finish above both Liverpool and Tottenham come the end of the season. 

Chelsea currently sit six points behind third-placed Liverpool despite having a match in hand. 

Chelsea still need to host Liverpool in the English top flight but even victory at Stamford Bridge and in their game in hand is unlikely to move them above the Reds due to their much inferior goal difference.

Meanwhile, the Blues also sit two points behind London rivals Tottenham, who have a match in hand before the end of the campaign.

Liverpool are on the verge of reaching the Champions League final after their 5-2 win vs Roma

Liverpool are on the verge of reaching the Champions League final after their 5-2 win vs Roma

Liverpool and Arsenal find out this week whether they will earn their spot in their respective European finals in May.

Liverpool face Roma away in the Champions League semi-final second-leg on Wednesday, but are in a commanding position to reach the final in Kiev after beating the Serie A outfit 5-2 at Anfield last week.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger’s side find themselves in a much tougher predicament ahead of the second-leg with Atletico Madrid on Thursday.

The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates after Antoine Griezmann struck late on for the 10 men of Atletico last week.

Arsenal have it all to do in their Europa League semi-final second-leg against Atletico Madrid

Arsenal have it all to do in their Europa League semi-final second-leg against Atletico Madrid

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