Race for Europe: Which Premier League teams are in line to qualify for UEFA competitions?

The Premier League season concludes this Sunday, with the title race between Manchester City and Arsenal being just one of the storylines to watch.

The race for European spots is also heating up, as Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United battle it out for places in the Europa League and the Conference League.

There is also a catch as the outcome of the FA Cup final could also play a pivotal role in determining the spots for Europe.

Which positions secure you Europa League and Conference League?

Currently, the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League at the end of the season will secure a spot in the Conference League.

This position was originally allocated to the EFL Cup winners, Liverpool, but since they have already qualified for a higher UEFA competition, it transfers to the highest-ranked team in the league that has not yet qualified for a European tournament.

Chelsea and Newcastle are currently sitting in sixth and seventh place respectively, with two games remaining.

Chelsea still has a chance to overtake Tottenham Hotspur for fifth place, but they must their final game and hope Spurs lose.

Manchester United, in eighth place, are level on points with Newcastle but three behind Chelsea.

To qualify for a European competition through their league position, the Red Devils will need a miracle as they first need to win and then overturn a goal difference swing of 16 while hoping that Chelsea lose and Newcastle don’t win.

How does the FA Cup play a role?

Erik Ten Hag’s men do have another lifeline in the form of the FA Cup.

If Manchester United triumph in the final against Manchester City but finish seventh or eighth in the league, only the fifth-placed team will join them in the Europa League, with the sixth-placed team competing in the Conference League next season.

In the event that Manchester City wins the FA Cup, the Europa League group stage spot awarded to the FA Cup winners will transfer to the highest-ranked team in the league that has not yet qualified for a UEFA competition.

In this scenario, the team finishing sixth in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League, while the seventh-placed team will participate in the Conference League.

On the other hand, if Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish in the top six, they will qualify for the Europa League alongside the fifth-placed team, with the seventh-placed team entering the Conference League.