European qualification explained

Who will go into the Champions League and Europa League group stages? Who faces qualifying for those competitions? And how could Chelsea salvage a European spot?

With the season reaching its climax, a complicated pattern of potential outcomes means domestic and European results will have a major effect on a number of Premier League clubs and their fixture list in 2016/17.

Here, we explain the permutations…

Methods of qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League

There are several ways Premier League teams can qualify for the Champions League and Europa League.

– League position – Winners will be seeded in the Champions League group stage. Second and third also make the group stages. Fourth would qualify for Champions League play-off round – although this is not currently assured. There are a further three positions for Europa League qualification which will be split between cup winners and league positions.

– Champions League win – guarantees a place in the group stage of the Champions League for the following season.

– Europa League win – guarantees a place in the Champions League play-off round for the following season but could also secure a group stage spot.

– FA Cup win – guarantees a Europa League group stage spot.

– League Cup win – guarantees a Europa League third-qualifying round spot.

Who has already qualified for European competition next season?

Leicester City are guaranteed a top-three finish in the Premier League – that means they will be in the group stage of the Champions League next season.

Manchester City won the Capital One Cup – that guarantees them a spot in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Why could fourth place not mean a place in the Champions League play-off round?

Should Manchester City win the Champions …

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