The Premier League now knows it will be sending Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League next season after they finished in the top four.
Arsenal could yet make it five English clubs in the UCL should they win the Europa League final against Chelsea on May 29.
But where will the clubs be placed in the Champions League group-stage draw pots, when it takes place on Thursday, Aug. 29?
Tottenham might have another reason to hope Arsenal lose the UEL final if they are to avoid Pot 3 and another tough group.
MANCHESTER CITY
UEFA rank: 6th
Pot: 1 (seeded)
City will be in the strongest pot as the champions of England. That pot also includes the Champions League and Europa League titleholders, plus the champions of Spain (Barcelona), Italy (Juventus), France (Paris Saint-Germain), Germany (Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund) and Russia (Zenit St Petersburg)
LIVERPOOL
UEFA rank: 11th
Possible pots: 1 (seeded), 2
Liverpool can only be seeded if they win the Champions League. Otherwise they will definitely be in Pot 2.
CHELSEA
UEFA rank: 12th
Possible pots: 1 (seeded), 2
Pretty much exactly the same as Liverpool, in that they can only be seeded if they win the Europa League. It’s Pot 2 if they don’t.
TOTTENHAM
UEFA rank: 17th
Possible pots: 1 (seeded), 2, 3
Spurs are the one Premier League team with a bit of a complicated situation. Of course, if they win the Champions League they will be in Pot 1.
However, if they lose to Liverpool then, as it stands, they are going to need some help to avoid being in Pot 3 and the prospect of a tougher group draw.
To be in Pot 2, Spurs would need two of the following to happen:
– Arsenal lose Europa League final
– Sevilla fail to qualify
– FC Porto fail to qualify
– Roma fail to qualify
How likely is this? Well it looks like Sevilla only have a slim chance of making it, two points adrift with one game to play and an inferior head to head record on those above them (Getafe, Valencia). Roma are a point outside the top four with two games left. FC Porto will be in the Champions League but seem set to go through qualifying.
It could be the case that Tottenham have an extra reason to hope Arsenal are beaten in the Europa League final.
ARSENAL
UEFA rank: 9th
Possible pots: 1 (seeded)
Arsenal can only qualify for the Champions League as Europa League winners, which would put them in Pot 1.
So, how are the Champions League pots looking?
It’s a little early, but if the top-seeded teams still in contention for a Champions League spot make it through, we’re looking at this for the top two pots. There are guaranteed to be three English clubs seeded.
POT 1: Liverpool or Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Zenit St Petersburg
POT 2: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, FC Porto, Liverpool or Napoli, Arsenal or Chelsea, Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma
All other qualifiers would fill out Pots 3 and 4. Should Sevilla, FC Porto, Liverpool and/or Roma not need their place in Pot 2, it will be filled (in order of priority) by Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, Tottenham and then Ajax.