The English Premier League, EPL title race and relegation battle may have dominated attention this season, but the fight for European qualification is also set for a dramatic finish on the final day of the campaign.
With four European places still available across the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, nine clubs remain in contention heading into the last round of matches on May 24.
Liverpool are currently favourites to secure the fifth Champions League spot after the Premier League earned an extra qualification place through UEFA’s European Performance Spots ranking.
However, several clubs are still mathematically in the race for continental football, including Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Sunderland, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Everton and Fulham.
Recent fixtures have further complicated the race for Europe.
Brighton missed the chance to strengthen their position after suffering a late defeat to Leeds United, while Brentford settled for a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Sunderland boosted their hopes with an impressive 3-1 victory over Everton, moving above the Toffees in the standings, while Newcastle kept their slim chances alive with a 3-1 win against West Ham.
Chelsea, meanwhile, remain in contention ahead of their clash against Tottenham, while Fulham’s hopes appear slim despite still having a mathematical chance of qualifying.
At the top end of the table, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa have already secured Champions League qualification.
Liverpool are currently fifth on 59 points but are not yet guaranteed a place in Europe’s elite competition.
Bournemouth, who still have a game in hand against Manchester City, could yet force their way into the Champions League places with a strong finish to the season.
The race for Europa League and Conference League places is also expected to go down to the wire, with Brighton currently occupying seventh place and Brentford sitting eighth.
Sunderland are just one point behind Brentford, while Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton remain within touching distance ahead of the decisive final round of matches.
With so many clubs separated by narrow margins, the final day could deliver more twists, with every goal potentially decisive in determining who secures European football next season.
Vanguard News
The post EPL Final Day: 9 clubs that could still qualify for Europe appeared first on Vanguard News.