European qualification permutations: Which teams can still qualify for the Champions League and Europa League

It will all depend on how Manchester United and Liverpool fare in cup competitions

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For a lot of teams in the Premier League, it would appear that the season is over.

However, that is not at all true with up to 10 teams in the Premier League still theoretically able to qualify for European competition next season.

The permutations for the Champions League and Europa League have become a bit more complicated this season with league position no longer the trump card - instead, FA Cup and League Cup success, as well as the Champions League, are now much more important.

A minimum of seven but perhaps eight Premier League teams could be playing in the two competitions next season - a maximum of five in the Champions League and three in the Europa League.

Here, we look at how every team in the top half of the Premier League - that includes Chelsea and Stoke City - still has a chance of playing in Europe next season, however slim. Permutations are fully explained further below.

PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

- Automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage and are a seeded team.

SECOND

- Automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage, not seeded.

THIRD

- Automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage, not seeded.

FOURTH

- Qualify for the Champions League play-off. However, there is a slim chance the fourth-placed team will be knocked down to the Europa League. It would take the unlikely sequence that sees Manchester City win the Champions League AND finish outside the top four AND Liverpool win the Europa League all at the same time. That would make for five teams in the Champions League (top three plus Manchester City plus Liverpool). If Manchester City finish fourth and win the Champions League they would still automatically make the group stage.

FIFTH

- Qualify for the Europa League group stage UNLESS Manchester City finish fifth and win the Champions League, as the team in fourth would then be knocked down to the Europa League.

SIXTH

- Qualify for the Europa League third qualifying round IF Manchester City finish in the top four OR win the Champions League.

SEVENTH

- Qualify for the Europa League IF Manchester United win the FA Cup AND finish in the top six AND Manchester City finish in the top five.

EIGHTH

- Qualify for the Europa League IF Liverpool win the Europa League AND finish seventh AND Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish in the top six AND Manchester City qualify for the Champions League (by whatever means). Unlikely but still...

CHELSEA AND STOKE CITY

- The two clubs currently occupy ninth and 10th in the Premier League. For them to qualify for the Europa League they would need to finish in the top eight and for the above permutation to take place. Not impossible, but not at all likely.

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FURTHER EXPLANATION...

LEAGUE POSITION

- The Premier League winners will be a top seed in the Champions League group stage, while the second and third placed teams will also make the group stage (seedings are based on past performance in European competition). The team who finishes fourth will have to play a qualifying play-off. There are also three Europa League spots up for grabs and although league position is important, cup success will have a big say.

CUP SUCCESS

- A Champions League win will guarantee a place in the group stage next season, no matter the final league position.

- A Europa League win will guarantee a place in the Champions League play-off round (we're looking at you Liverpool).

- An FA Cup win will guarantee a Europa League group stage position and a League Cup win will guarantee a spot in the Europa League third qualifying round.

FOURTH PLACE

- In the unlikely event that Manchester City win the Champions League AND finish outside the top four AND Liverpool win the Europa League, the team that finish in fourth will not qualify for the Champions League next season. That is because only five teams are allowed in the competition from any one nation (therefore it would be the top three plus Man City plus Liverpool). Furthermore, if Liverpool won the Europa League they could also be bumped up to an automatic group stage place IF the Champions League winner finishes in the top three of their league (very likely).

LEAGUE CUP

- Manchester City won the Capital One Cup so therefore have already guaranteed at least a spot in the Europa League third qualifying round. However, if they qualify for the Champions League (whether through winning the competition or league position) their Europa League spot will go to the next highest finisher who has not already qualified.

FA CUP

- Winners of the FA Cup will go to the Europa League group stage - unless they have already qualified for Europe through other means. Therefore, if Manchester United win the FA Cup but qualify for the Champions League (by finishing in the top four) their Europa League spot is passed on. If Manchester United finish in the top six and win the FA Cup, their Europa League spot is also passed on. If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, they enter the Europa League and there will be one less place available via league position.