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It is also possible – albeit highly unlikely – that 11 English teams could qualify for Europe were sides from the world’s richest league to complete a clean sweep of continental triumphs come the summer.
Here, Telegraph Sport takes a look at how more than a third of Premier League clubs could end up playing in the Champions League and more than half in Europe.
The four tops
England, like Spain, Italy and Germany, have four guaranteed spots in the Champions League proper, which are currently awarded to the teams who finish in the top four in their respective domestic leagues. France also has four spots, albeit the fourth only grants entry to the qualifying rounds. In the Premier League, runaway leaders Liverpool are all but certain of being in the Champions League next season, with Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea currently occupying the other three slots.
The fifth element
The expansion of the Champions League has seen Uefa award an extra place in the competition to the country whose clubs boast the best overall record across all European competitions that season. Premier League teams flopped last term, allowing Italy and Germany to secure a fifth spot. But it has all turned around this season, with England leading the way from Spain. That could allow Manchester City, who are currently fifth in the Premier League, to snatch a Champions League place despite their first major slump since Pep Guardiola took charge.
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