The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is drawing closer, and with the Premier League entering its final stages, clubs are gearing up for the race to secure qualification. As the top four positions become increasingly crucial, Liverpool and Arsenal have emerged as near-certainties for qualification. But with numerous other teams still in contention, the question remains: which other Premier League sides will join them in Europe’s most prestigious club competition? What’s more, the Premier League could secure as many as seven spots in next season’s tournament, contingent on the results of other European competitions.

Liverpool and Arsenal: Champions League Certainties

As of March 2025, Liverpool and Arsenal are practically assured of a top-four finish, thanks to their substantial points cushions. With just 10 games remaining, Liverpool hold a commanding 23-point lead over fifth place, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are eight points clear. Opta gives Liverpool a 100% chance of finishing in the top four, while Arsenal’s chances are similarly high at 99.6%. Their qualification seems almost inevitable, barring an unforeseen collapse in the final stretch of the season.

While these two clubs have locked down their positions in next season’s Champions League, the battle for the remaining spots is far from decided. With a tight points gap between third and tenth place, it’s anyone’s guess which teams will secure the coveted European spots.

The Tight Race for Third and Fourth Places

Behind Liverpool and Arsenal, several teams remain in contention for the third and fourth Champions League spots. As things currently stand, Nottingham Forest occupies third place, closely followed by Chelsea in fourth. However, Manchester City and even surprise contenders like Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth are still very much in the mix.

Nottingham Forest recently secured a massive victory over Manchester City, consolidating their place in the top four. Meanwhile, Chelsea moved ahead of the defending champions after a win over Leicester City. Brighton, thanks to a dramatic win over Fulham, has climbed to sixth, just three points off the top four. Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, and Fulham are also within striking distance, making this one of the most competitive and unpredictable Premier League seasons in recent memory.

The Possibility of Five or Even Six Spots for England

One of the most intriguing aspects of this season’s Champions League race is the possibility that the Premier League could secure five or even six spots in the tournament. This would be a rare occurrence, the first since the 2017/18 season. The key factor here is the UEFA coefficient, which determines how many teams each country can send to European competitions. This ranking is based on the performance of clubs in European tournaments over a ten-year period, with extra points awarded for victories and advancing to later rounds.

Currently, England holds the top position in the UEFA coefficient rankings, driven by the strong performances of its clubs in European competitions. Six of the seven English clubs involved in European tournaments this season reached the last 16 of their respective competitions. While Manchester City were eliminated in the Champions League by Real Madrid, teams like Manchester United and Tottenham are still in the hunt for success in the Europa League. If either of them were to win the Europa League and finish outside the top four in the Premier League, this could open the door for an additional Champions League spot for England.

The Race for the Top Five: Who’s in the Running?

With ten matches still remaining for most teams, the race for the top four or even top five spots remains incredibly close. While Liverpool and Arsenal are effectively locked into Champions League spots, the competition for the third, fourth, and fifth places is intense.

Manchester City, despite a recent slip-up, is still among the favorites. Opta gives Pep Guardiola’s side a 70.3% chance of finishing in the top four and an 84.9% chance of securing a top-five finish, which would likely still guarantee Champions League qualification.

Nottingham Forest, riding high in third place, has a 57.4% chance of securing a top-four finish and a stronger 76.2% chance of finishing in the top five, which would still guarantee their participation in next season’s Champions League. Chelsea, who sit in fourth, have a 36.3% chance of reaching the top four, but are more likely to secure a top-five finish with a 59.4% chance.

Newcastle United’s hopes remain slim but not impossible, with a 34.7% chance of finishing in the top five. Brighton, currently sitting in sixth, have a 21.3% chance of securing a top-five finish, but their hopes of reaching the top four are more remote, at just 9.2%.

Meanwhile, clubs like Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Fulham still have a mathematical chance of breaking into the top four or five, although their prospects are becoming increasingly unlikely as the season progresses. Aston Villa, for example, has just a 3% chance of reaching the top four, while Fulham’s chances are even slimmer at 0.4%.

Potential Scenarios for England’s Five or Six Spots

The situation for English clubs could become even more complicated if either Manchester United or Tottenham were to win the Europa League this season. Both teams are still in the competition, and a victory by either, combined with a finish outside the top four in the Premier League, would grant them a Champions League spot. This would bring the total number of Champions League spots for English clubs to five, or potentially six, depending on the outcome of the UEFA coefficient race.

In this scenario, England’s representatives in European competitions would look very different, as some of the teams outside the top four could secure a Champions League berth through alternative routes. A win for Manchester United or Tottenham in the Europa League, coupled with a strong domestic finish, could lead to a historic number of Premier League teams in the Champions League.

The Final Stretch: Key Matches and the Home Stretch

As we head into the final two and a half months of the season, the race for the top spots will intensify. Key fixtures include matchups between Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as crucial games for Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle United. The outcome of these games could drastically shift the standings, making the final weeks of the season even more thrilling.

Some of the key upcoming fixtures include:

• March 16: Arsenal vs. Chelsea
• April 1: Arsenal vs. Fulham, Brighton vs. Aston Villa
• April 5: Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest, Fulham vs. Liverpool
• May 18: Arsenal vs. Newcastle, Brighton vs. Liverpool, Man City vs. Bournemouth

With the Premier League table so tight and the potential for multiple teams to secure Champions League qualification, this season’s final stretch promises to be filled with drama and excitement.

Conclusion

The race for Champions League qualification in the Premier League is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With Liverpool and Arsenal looking secure, the competition for the remaining spots is fierce, with several clubs still in contention. The potential for up to seven English teams in the Champions League next season adds an extra layer of intrigue, as Manchester United or Tottenham’s Europa League campaigns could play a pivotal role in the final qualification outcomes. Fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the season as clubs battle not only for domestic supremacy but also for a place among Europe’s elite.