Arsenal, Man City, Man United, and Aston Villa have locked in Champions League spots for 2026-27. A fifth place comes through UEFA's EPS, with Liverpool sitting fifth on 59 points — but they are not yet guaranteed a berth after losing to Villa on Friday. The race for that final European place is wide open and chaotic.

Bournemouth, sixth and four points back, hold a game in hand against Manchester City. They need one point to guarantee a top-eight finish. Win at City and then Nottingham Forest while Liverpool lose to Brentford, and the Cherries leapfrog the Reds. If Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, England could field six Champions League teams.

Brighton, Chelsea, and Brentford remain alive for sixth. Chelsea's hopes faded after a loss to Sunderland. Everton's David Moyes said his side "weren't quite ready" for Europe. Fulham's Marco Silva admitted missing a European spot but pledged to push the club forward. The squeeze at the top has left several clubs staring at missed opportunities.