Liverpool blow as Champions League spot at risk after Crystal Palace victory
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCThe Premier League will have a record nine teams in European competitions next season, but it could lose its extra Champions League spot as a result of the new coefficient rules14:32, 28 May 2026Updated 14:35, 28 May 2026Liverpool finished fifth this season(Image: Getty Images)Crystal Palace's historic Conference League triumph could cost the Premier League its additional Champions League berth after next season — potentially impacting Liverpool.The Eagles and Liverpool-linked Adam Wharton defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Wednesday's final to bring Oliver Glasner's remarkable tenure in south London to a close with a third piece of silverware and their first European honor. The victory also confirmed that a record nine Premier League clubs will participate in European competition next season.While undeniably a remarkable accomplishment for English soccer's top flight, it could carry severe repercussions for those battling to secure qualification for Europe's most prestigious tournament.
The coefficient formula that gauges European performances will be affected by the nine clubs that have earned European spots next season.Under the regulations, every victory is worth two coefficient points, with a draw worth one point, and this figure is subsequently divided by the number of clubs from the winning team's nation competing in Europe.Consequently, points earned by English clubs for each victory or draw will be divided by nine next season, meaning a win will be worth a mere 0.222 points toward the country's coefficient.This falls short of what Serie A or Bundesliga sides would accumulate per victory (0.285), as both leagues will have seven clubs in European competition next season.Crystal Palace won the Europa League on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)The potential loss of the additional spot could further be jeopardized by how deeply the likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland progress in their respective tournaments, given their relative inexperience on the European stage.England's coefficient could also be affected by Brighton's participation in the Conference League, with all three clubs facing more challenging group stage draws as lower-seeded sides.Should they suffer early exits from European competition, their underwhelming performances could drag down England's overall points coefficient.This means that at least three English clubs must realistically progress to either the semifinals or finals across the three competitions.English sides do have the chance to accumulate bonus points through Europe's league phase format, which is determined by where they finish in their respective league tables.Finishing top of the Champions League phase secures a maximum of 12 bonus points, while claiming first place in the Europa League yields six points, and topping the Conference League earns four points.Additional points are also awarded for each knockout round a team advances through, ranging from 1.5 points per round in the Champions League down to 0.5 points in the Conference League.Liverpool's fifth-place finish secured the Reds an additional Champions League spot for the forthcoming season, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace all reaching their respective finals.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Crystal Palace FCLiverpool FCChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueUEFA