EPL: Why five English teams could qualify for Champions League next season

Why five English teams could qualify for Champions League next season

Why five English teams could qualify for Champions League next season – Next season could see five Premier League clubs qualify for the Champions League.
This is because UEFA has changed the criteria to qualify for the competition, removing access based on club co-efficient.

The number of matches in the new opening league stage will also be reduced from 10 to eight per team. If the rule were applied last season, England and Italy would get an extra spot, meaning the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League would qualify apart from the top four teams.

With the number of teams increasing from 32 to 36, UEFA said one place will go to the “club ranked third in the championship of the association in fifth position in the UEFA national association ranking.”

The Premier League has been in the top two in six of the past seven seasons (in 2019-20, Germany pipped England to second by a solitary victory), so that’s good news for the likes of Aston Villa, Brighton, West Ham and Newcastle who are currently occupying fifth to eighth places in the division.