Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal will enter the final day of the Premier League season fighting for two spots in next year's ...
Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal will enter the final
day of the Premier League season fighting for two spots in next year's
Champions League.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are already guaranteed of
taking their places in the group stage draw, but there are still two places up
for grabs. Third place enters directly into the group stage, fourth place must
go through the Champions League playoff round. Fifth place settles for the
Europa League.
Goal difference and goals scored will, as usual, be used to
split any teams who are level on points -- but the Premier League could see its
first-ever playoff if two teams finish with identical records of points, goals
scored and goals conceded.
We run through the permutations and what needs to happen for
there to be a dramatic end-of-season playoff.
MANCHESTER CITY (3rd, 75 points)
City will need to draw at Watford in their final match on
Sunday to be absolutely sure of at least fourth place. They go into that match
three points ahead of Arsenal, and two ahead of Liverpool.
They could be overtaken by both if they lose heavily at
Watford, Arsenal win well at home to Everton, and Liverpool are victorious too.
City are two points ahead of Liverpool but only three goals
better off in goal difference, so a draw and a three-goal win for Liverpool could
bump City into fourth on goals scored, though 3-0 and 3-3 would leave them with
identical records (see below).
Both Arsenal and Liverpool failing to win would also secure
City's place in the group stage -- if either fail to win City will at least be fourth.
LIVERPOOL (4th, 73 points)
Liverpool know they have to win at home to already-relegated
Middlesbrough on Sunday to keep Arsenal at arm's length. A draw, and they would
be overtaken by an Arsenal win.
If Liverpool lose and Arsenal draw, then Liverpool are
guaranteed to be fourth unless they lose by more than one goal. Lose by two
goals and it goes to goals scored and a possible playoff. Lose by three goals
and Arsenal need a point. They could still qualify with a defeat, too, if
Arsenal are also beaten.
ARSENAL (5th, 72 points)
As above, there is the chance Arsenal could qualify for the
Champions League with a point if Liverpool lose by at least two goals, but in
reality they must win and hope Liverpool do not. They could overtake Man City
if they win and Pep Guardiola's team lose, but there would need to be an
unlikely six-goal swing.
