Why Liverpool could be among 10 Premier League clubs in Europe next season
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Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Arsenal have all reach European semifinals this season — while Liverpool is on course for Champions League qualificationRio Ngumoha is set to play in Europe next season with Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)The Premier League could see as many as 10 clubs competing in Europe next season, with Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest all advancing to the semifinals of their respective UEFA competitions.Forest and Villa will face one another in the Europa League final four, while Palace takes on Shakhtar Donetsk for a place in the Conference League final. Currently, finishing sixth earns a club a Europa League berth, with a Conference League place going to the side in seventh.Claiming the FA Cup also carries a Europa League spot, meaning Leeds, Southampton, or even Chelsea could all earn European qualification via that route.However, should Man City lift the trophy, or Chelsea do so while finishing in the top seven, then sixth and seventh would qualify for the Europa League, with eighth becoming the Conference League place.Aston Villa has reached a European semifinal(Image: Getty Images)The additional spots come into play should Forest, Palace or Villa triumph in their respective UEFA competitions.
Success in the Europa League guarantees Champions League qualification.A ninth club could secure European soccer should Forest claim the trophy, or Villa do likewise, provided either team also finishes outside the top six. Either outcome would echo what transpired last season with Tottenham.In a similar fashion, claiming the Conference League earns a club a place in the Europa League.Palace lifting its first European silverware would also add a ninth spot, though it retains a mathematical chance of qualifying through its league position.A combination of either Forest or Villa, alongside Palace, winning their respective UEFA competitions, is how the Premier League could field 10 sides in Europe next season.
However, the victors must finish outside the top six.The prospects of Europa League glory are enhanced by a Premier League club already assured of a place in the final in Istanbul.Either Forest or Villa will face Braga or Freiburg in the Turkish city four days before the Premier League season's concluding day.As for Palace, either Rayo Vallecano or Strasbourg stands between the London club and the trophy, should it progress past Shakhtar. Leipzig plays host to the Conference League final three days after the Premier League's last day.