Champions League: Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle Which Premier League teams can secure European football?

Last Updated 59 minutes ago59 minutes ago.From the European football section

Newcastle are in pole position for the Champions League for the first time since 2003

Newcastle and Manchester United are now both just one point away from securing a place in next season’s Champions League.

Manchester City and Arsenal are guaranteed the top four spots, while Magpies and the Red Devils are on course to join them after Saturday’s results.

Liverpool were late finishers in the top four, but their run of seven successive Premier League wins was ended by a draw against Aston Villa, allowing Manchester United to extend their lead over their rivals to three points with a victory at Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Newcastle took a big step towards Champions League qualification with victory over Brighton on Thursday: they remain third, three points ahead of Liverpool. The Reds’ hopes are now hanging by a thread as they have played one game more than both Newcastle and Manchester United.

The teams that finish in the top seven will secure some form of European football next season – BBC Sport is watching how things play out.

Who can finish in the Champions League?

Manchester City, who could win the Champions League this season, and Arsenal, with 85 and 81 points respectively, finish in the top two.

City win the league if they beat Chelsea on Sunday (4pm BST) or if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Third-placed Newcastle and fourth-placed Manchester United, both on 69 points, need just one point from their last two games to secure a place in the top four.

Liverpool are three points off fifth place with one game to go.

The Reds trailed by 12 points on 9 April, but their recent resurgence has kept them in the mix, while Manchester United have won just two of their last four games.

If Manchester City win the Champions League, whoever finishes fifth in the Premier League will not qualify for next year’s competition.

The only circumstance where five English teams can qualify for the Champions League is if a Premier League club wins the competition but then fails to finish in the top four. And the Europa League?

Teams finishing fifth and sixth in the Premier League are guaranteed a place in the Europa League as FA Cup finalists Manchester City and Manchester United finish in the top six.

Liverpool are currently fifth – eight points ahead of sixth-placed Brighton, who have two games to play. Aston Villa are behind the Seagulls on goal difference and Tottenham are another point behind.

“Liverpool and Brighton remain the teams most likely to play in the Europa League group stage next season, according to the Euro Club Index,” said Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen’s Gracenote.

What about the Europa Conference League? The team that finishes seventh will progress to the Europa Conference League play-offs, as Carabao Cup winners Manchester United are guaranteed a Europa League place via the league or FA Cup.

That spot will almost certainly go to one of the teams already named in the battle for a Europa League spot. However, Brentford are also still in the mix after beating Tottenham on Saturday.

Aston Villa are currently seventh, one point ahead of Spurs, with the Bees a further point back in ninth.

How can there be eight English teams in Europe next season? While West Ham failed to qualify for a place in the first half of the game, they reached the Europa Conference League final.

If they win this competition, they will secure a place in the Europa League group stage next season.

The Hammers will face Italian side Fiorentina in the final in Prague on June 7 – and are the easy favorites with a 56 per cent chance of winning the competition, according to Nielsen’s Gracenote.

Who will finish in the top seven?

Predict who will finish in the Premier League’s top seven this season. First

1

Second

2

Third

3

Fourth

4

Fifth

5

Sixth

6

Seventh

7

Confirm your selection

Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever – follow your squad and sign up for alerts in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment

Also.. 

Why referee John Brooks and VAR ruled out Cody Gakpo goal

There was huge confusion both at Anfield and for those watching from home when referee John Brooks disallowed Cody Gakpo’s goal against Aston Villa.

It turns out that the explanation is no longer convincing.
Gakpo thought he had made it 1-1 with his close-range finish early in Saturday’s second half, nullifying Jacob Ramsey’s lead.

But after a long VAR check, the referee was sent to the pitch monitor to re-evaluate his decision and eventually disallow the goal.

The decision was officially described as offside, but there was confusion as to why exactly the goal missed.

Now the Premier League has at least explained the rationale behind the decision, with Virgil van Dijk ruled offside.

“Van Dijk was in an offside position following Luis Diaz’s header,” a statement read.

“The VAR recommended a review and referee John Brooks ruled it was a deflection by Ezri Konsa, not an intentional act.”

Diaz had headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s high ball in the penalty area, but Konsa clearly deliberately attempted a pass which then fell to Van Dijk.

Had Konsa not deliberately played the ball, but he had simply let the ball bounce off him, it would have been a defensive effort of disastrous proportions. But that’s why the goal wasn’t possible and Jurgen Klopp was undoubtedly furious in the stands as he served his ban for commenting on fellow official Paul Tierney.

Incidentally, Brooks was the fourth official to be warned by Klopp for his celebrations as Liverpool beat Tottenham 4-3 at Anfield last month.

After this incident, the manager was banned for two games – one of which was suspended – and fined £75,000.