How does Newcastle United winning EFL Cup change European qualification for Premier League clubs?
How does Newcastle United winning EFL Cup change European qualification for Premier League clubs?
By beating Liverpool 2-1 in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, Newcastle United has not only assured their first trophy since 1969, but they have also earned a place in the Europa Conference League. Given their place in the Premier League, the Magpies have the chance to qualify directly for the Europa League of Champions League. Due to the European coefficient, the Premier League could send five teams to the Champions League next season instead of four, but even if they only send four, Newcastle are a point from fifth place where they immediately qualified for the Europa League group phase.
If the magpies play directly in UCL or EL, this would shift the qualification for matches, because Liverpool has already qualified for Europa League game next season and will almost be eligible for the Champions League game. If the winner of the EFL Cup ends in the top five, then their Playoff Place goes to the Conference League to the next highest team to have not earned a place in a UEFA competition based on their competition position.
Who goes to every match?
- Champions League: The top four teams in the Premier League are eligible for the UCL League phase. Fifth place can also be eligible for the competition phase based on how Premier League clubs in Europe perform.
- Europa League: The FA Cup winners and the fifth place team in the Premier League (Making Sixth Placed Team as Five Teams UCL) both qualify for the competition phase of Europa League game. Just like the Conference League Place, if the FA Cup winner has already granted a European place through the competition, this will also set the table to the next highest team such as the Conference League place.
- Europe grants League: The EFL Cup winners are eligible for the play -off phase.
Current Premier League table
| Posit | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | Go | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 29 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 69 | 27 | +42 | 70 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 53 | 24 | +29 | 58 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 35 | +14 | 54 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 49 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 29 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 40 | +15 | 48 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 47 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 47 |
| 8 | Fulham | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 43 | 38 | +5 | 45 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 45 | -4 | 45 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 48 | 36 | +12 | 44 |
| 11 | Brentford | 29 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 41 |
Depending on what happens, a team that ends as low as 11th place can be eligible for Europe next season. Newcastle has already qualified for the Conference League and could find their way to other European competitions. With Aston Villa, Brighton, Fulham, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are all in the race for the FA Cup title, while they are also in the mix for Champions League and Europa League positions, there is still enough to be decided.
Manchester United and Tottenham also have the chance to end in the top 10, while winning the Europa League would book a place in the Champions League next season. Aston Villa also still has a chance to win the Champions League. If both things happen, together with Chelsea who wins the Europa Conference League while he finishes eighth, there is a chance that other circumstances can push a conference competition to 11th, currently occupied by Brentford.
It would cost a lot to make this happen, but it is not outside the realm of the possibility. In a season in which Newcastle has ended their trophy -dried and Nottingham Forest are on course for Champions League football, everything can happen.
