How Chelsea, Tottenham Could Miss Out Of Champions League Even If They Finish 4th In The Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea could miss out on Champions League football next season, even if they finish fourth at the end of this campaign.

Should both the London teams finish above Liverpool in the top four, and the Reds and Arsenal both win the Champions League and Europa League in May, England would have six teams ‘qualified’ for Europe’s top competition.

But UEFA rules state clearly that an association is allowed no more than five teams in the Champions League.

This means the fourth-placed team in the Premier League, would drop into the second tier of Europe.

However, there is only a very small chance that this could happen, as Chelsea need a miracle to finish above both Liverpool and Tottenham.

Chelsea currently sit six points behind third-placed Liverpool despite having a match in hand. They still have to play the Reds at Stamford Bridge, but victory in their game in hand is not likely to move them above Liverpool, due to their much inferior goal difference.

The Blues also sit two points behind London rivals Tottenham, who have a match in hand before the end of the campaign.