Premier League race for Champions League qualification: Key fixtures, contenders, predictions as giants scrap

The race for Champions League qualification is hot and there are some huge Premier League clubs scrapping away to finish in the top five, with five spots in the Champions League for 2026-27 set for teams in the Premier League.

MORE — Latest Premier League table

With the title race down to Arsenal and Manchester City, there are another half-dozen or so behind them all involved in an almighty battle for three spots in the UEFA Champions League.

Things are made even spicier by the fact that Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest could both qualify for next season's Champions League even if they don't finish in the top five of the Premier League by virtue of winning the Europa League.

MORE — Premier League prize money table: How does it work?

Below we look at everything you need to know regarding the Premier League's race for Champions League qualification and reveal the five teams we think will qualify.

Current Champions League race, latest table

1. Arsenal — 21-7-3, +39 GD, 70 points
2. Manchester City — 18-7-5, +32 GD, 61 points
3. Manchester United — 15-10-6, +13 GD, 55 points
4. Aston Villa — 16-6-9, +5 GD, 54 points
5. Liverpool — 14-7-10, +8 GD, 49 points — GUARANTEED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT — Explainer

In the hunt...

6. Chelsea — 13-9-9, +15 GD, 48 points
7. Brentford — 13-7-11, +4 GD, 46 points
8. Everton — 13-7-11, +2 GD, 46 points
9. Fulham — 13-5-13, -1 GD, 44 points
10. Brighton — 11-10-10, +4 GD, 43 points
11. Sunderland — 11-10-10, -4 GD, 43 points

How many Premier League teams can qualify for the Champions League?

The teams who finish in the top five of the Premier League table during the 2025-26 season will qualify automatically for the 2026-27 Champions League campaign. Top four was always the case, but England got a fifth place when Arsenal's UCL quarterfinal first leg win over Sporting Lisbon boosted them outside of the reach of anyone but Spain. The top two nations based on the performance of their clubs in all European competitions are handed an extra place in the Champions League. That is all explained here.

There is also the possibility of six Premier League teams qualifying for the Champions League league phase once again for next season, as was the case last season. How can that happen? Well, England have maintained their position in the top two of the UEFA coefficient rankings, so if one of Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest finish outside the top five (the former seems unlikely, the latter seems likely) and also win the UEFA Europa League trophy, they would claim their prize of Champions League qualification and therefore make it six Premier League teams in the Champions League league phase for next season.

Analyzing the likely qualifiers, and the chasing pack

Arsenal have qualified for the 2026-26 Champions League and it's safe to assume that Manchester City will join them. Man City have an 13-point gap to sixth-place and have savvy and experience dealing with the final weeks of the season.

Manchester United and Aston Villa look pretty set for top-five finishes too with seven- and eight-point leads over sixth-place right now. Liverpool have 49 points and Chelsea 48 but it's not as simple as out-dueling each other for fifth. Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Brighton, and Sunderland don't have the distraction of European competition and could catch lightning in a bottle to leapfrog the others. All are within six points of fifth. Newcastle and Bournemouth are seven back, but that's not a bridge we're crossing at this point.

Key fixtures remaining

April 18: Everton vs Liverpool
April 18: Chelsea vs Manchester United
April 25: Manchester United vs Brentford
May 2: Manchester United vs Liverpool
May 9: Sunderland vs Manchester United
May 9: Liverpool vs Chelsea
May 17: Aston Villa vs Liverpool
May 24: Liverpool vs Brentford

Why Manchester United should have the edge

Man United play just two teams near them in the table — chasers Chelsea and Liverpool — and have no other competitions to worry about the rest of the way. They basically have to navigate a tough trip to Stamford Bridge in mid-April and then take care of business against teams from much lower down the table. There is a very real scenario that Michael Carrick's side will go unbeaten in their final games of the season given the relative struggles of the Blues and Reds.

Predictions for who will qualify for the Champions League, with final points total

If we assume that Arsenal and Manchester City will finish in the top two, in whatever order, then this is how I predict the rest of hte table will stack up.

3. Manchester United — 70 points
4. Aston Villa — 70 points
5. Liverpool — 62 points
   ———————————————————————-
6. Chelsea — 61 points
7. Everton — 58 points
8. Brentford — 58 points
9. Brighton — 55 points
10. Fulham — 53 points