Final Day of Season to Determine European Qualifications and Premier League Champion

Courtesy of Chelsea FC's instagram

Chelsea defeated Brighton 2-1 on Wednesday, moving into sixth place on the Premier League table with a chance to challenge Tottenham Hotspur for a Europa League spot. The final matches of the 2023-24 Premier League season on Sunday will determine the title winner between Manchester City and Arsenal, and which teams secure the remaining European competition spots.

Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have already secured the four UEFA Champions League berths. Tottenham, currently in fifth place and in a Europa League position, are five points behind Villa and three points ahead of Chelsea, who hold the Conference League spot.
 

▲ Courtesy of Chelsea FC's instagram

A win for Tottenham against Sheffield United on Sunday would secure their fifth-place finish and a Europa League berth. However, if Chelsea win and Tottenham lose, Chelsea could move to fifth place due to their superior goal difference, relegating Tottenham to sixth.

Newcastle and Manchester United, both three points behind Chelsea, are also in contention. Newcastle could take sixth place if they win and Chelsea lose, thanks to their better goal difference. If both Chelsea and Newcastle lose and Manchester United win, United could move to seventh but not higher due to goal difference.

The FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United on May 25 adds another layer of complexity. The FA Cup winner earns a Europa League spot, but if City win, the Europa League spot would go to the sixth-place Premier League team, as City have already qualified for the Champions League. This scenario would shift the Conference League berth to the seventh-place finisher. 

▲ Courtesy of Son Heung-min's instagramTottenham and captain Son Heung-min could drop to sixth place but would still qualify for European competition, either in the Europa League or Conference League, depending on the FA Cup outcome. A win against Sheffield United, who have already been relegated, would make Tottenham's position secure.

Chelsea will play Bournemouth on Sunday, while Newcastle face Brentford and Manchester United play Brighton. In the title race, Manchester City will host West Ham, and Arsenal will host Everton.

Next season, the UEFA club tournaments (Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League) will switch to a "league stage" format, where teams will play against randomly-drawn opponents in a single league system rather than in preliminary group stages.

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Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com