Europa League qualification: Which Premier League sides will qualify and how?

Four teams will play in Europe's second-tier competition next season

Europa League trophy (GETTY IMAGES)

The Europa League - the poisoned chalice of football that teams battle to qualify for and when they do wonder if it's really what they wanted.

Despite the bad press Europe's second-tier competition suffers, a run to the latter stages of the competition can prove the highlight of the season (ask any Fulham fan) and with a Champions League place now on offer for the winners, there should be a real incentive to go the whole way.

This season, four teams from the Premier League will qualify for the competition.

Here, we take a look at which sides they might be and how they can do it...

FIFTH AND SIXTH PLACE

Whatever else happens, the sides that finish fifth and sixth in the table will qualify. Those positions are currently occupied by Liverpool and Tottenham who are on 62 points and 58 points respectively. With two games to play Southampton are a point behind Tottenham. Swansea are the last remaining team that could qualify through this root, but with a five point gap between themselves and Spurs with three games to play, they look unlikely to make it.

Liverpool look almost certain to qualify for the Europa League (Getty Images)

FA CUP/SEVENTH PLACE

The winners of the FA Cup qualify, however if the winner has already qualified for Europe, the qualifier will be the team that finishes seventh in the league. Arsenal and Aston Villa will contest the Wembley final on 30 May. Should Aston Villa win, they will be playing in the Europa League next term. But if the Gunners are victorious then due to their qualification for the Champions League, the side in seventh will qualify. That position is currently held by Southampton on 57 points, with Swansea (who have played a game less) four points behind and the only other side that could finish that high.

Tim Sherwood could be managing in Europe next season (Getty)

FAIR PLAY

Uefa have announced that the Premier League has been awarded a fourth place in the Europa League due to the overall Fair Play record of the division. That place will go the side that finish top of the Premier League Fair Play Table for which clubs are awarded points based on discipline, positive play and respect towards opponents and officials. Liverpool are currently top, but with them likely to qualify through their position in the league, this would pass to the next team which is West Ham. Everton are the nearest side to the Hammers and could potentially overhaul them during the final two games of the campaign.