How Premier League could now have seven Champions League teams next season explained

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Six or seven Premier League clubs could qualify for next season's Champions League after being guaranteed at least five spots in the league phase. Arsenal have already secured their spot and ensured England will have a European Performance Spot (EPS) by beating Sporting.

Their win in Lisbon ensured that UEFA will award the Premier League an extra place in next year's league phase. They will benefit from an EPS for a second consecutive season.

However, they could still have a maximum of seven teams in the Champions League next term. That would be one more than the six from this season.

In addition to the standard four teams, Newcastle United benefitted from the EPS, and Tottenham Hotspur also qualified as Europa League winners. Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest could emulate them by winning that competition.

The latter would become the sixth team to qualify, as, like when Spurs won 12 months ago, they are barely above the relegation zone. Villa, however, could win the Europa League and still finish in the top five.

If they did come fifth, then sixth place would benefit from the EPS instead. However, an English club winning the Champions League could also impact the Premier League.

Liverpool lifting another European Cup and finishing fifth would also see sixth spot qualify. However, if both Liverpool and Villa win UEFA trophies this season, then seventh place would become the EPS.

Sixth is currently due to qualify for the Europa League, with a Conference League place going to seventh. However, success for Liverpool and Villa in Europe could benefit a whole host of teams.

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There are just seven points between Brentford in seventh and 14th-place Crystal Palace , who also have a game in hand over every team between them. Just goal difference separates the Bees from Everton , with Fulham only two points further back.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland are only another point adrift, with Bournemouth and Newcastle United a win and a draw away. Even if seventh spot does not come with Champions League qualification, all of those teams will be eyeing a place in one of UEFA's competitions.

Higher up the table, Liverpool occupy fifth and are five points adrift of Villa in fourth. Chelsea currently sit in sixth, a point behind the Reds but just two above Brentford.