As the 2015-16 English Premier League comes to an end on Sunday, there will be no title drama a-la Sergio Aguero nor will there be a Jonas Gutierrez moment saving Newcastle from relegation but a number of European subplots make sure to provide a dramatic ending to the most unpredictable Premier League seasons to date.
With Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur's qualification for the Champions League confirmed and Arsenal also guaranteed a top-4 finish, there are 6 other Premier league teams fighting for European Qualification.
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Rules for Qualification:-
The Premier League has been allotted 4 spots in Champions League with another 3 in Europa league, consisting of 5th placed team as well as winners of FA Cup and Capital One Cup. However, this year’s League Cup winners Man City can finish no lower than 5th so the Europa league spot will go to the 6th best team. However, if Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish in the top 6, the 7th placed team will also earn the European spot.
Now if Liverpool beat Sevilla in next week's Europa League Final and finish top 7, the Premier League is likely to lose one of its spots in the Europa League. But if Liverpool defeat Sevilla and finish 8th, the premier league would be represented by 8 teams in Europe next season.
So let's take a look at each team's chances:
#1 Arsenal (3rd, 68 points)
Arsenal fans will feel how on Earth they didn’t win the Premier league this season. With Chelsea and Manchester City having terrible seasons and rest of the big boys being inconsistent, this was Arsenal’s best chance. However, the Gunners are at least guaranteed a top 4 finish. However, there's still a chance of claiming 2nd place ahead of their bitter rivals Tottenham if they beat Aston Villa on Sunday (who've lost 11 of their last 12 games) and Spurs lose to Newcastle United.
If Man City defeat Swansea City and Arsenal lose to Villa, the Gunners will finish 4th behind the Citizens due to an inferior goal difference (+25 to City's +30). That is the lowest they can finish.
#2 Manchester City (4th, 65 points)
After their lacklustre performance last Sunday that seemed to sum up their lethargic campaign, where they failed to beat the Gunners, Champions League qualifications was out of their hands until West Ham beat their Red neighbours on Tuesday.
Beat Swansea and Pellegrini’s side will ensure a top 4 finish. They can even finish as high as 3rd if other results go their way. Even a point would see them finish higher than the team from the red half of Manchester as they have a hugely superior goal difference.
#3 Manchester United (5th, 63 points)
United's demoralizing away defeat to the Hammers midweek has completely given back the initiative to Man City. They only had 2 shots on target keeping up with their trend of being knackered. They now hope City lose their match against Swansea and they win theirs against Bournemouth to qualify for Champions League. Van Gaal's men could also end up in Europa league if they finish 5th, 6th or win the FA Cup.
However, there's still a possibility of them not having European nights entirely next season. For that dramatic disappointment they must lose their last game and the FA Cup final along with West Ham, Southampton and Liverpool winning their last games as well the Reds lifting the Europa League.
#4 West Ham United (6th, 62 points)
With the move to London's Olympic Stadium confirmed before the start of the season, European Qualification would surely enhance their reputation as one of London's big boys and increase their fan following worldwide.
West Ham have had a wonderful campaign led by the likes of Dimitri Payet and Lanzini. The Hammers could finish above United in 5th if they beat Stoke City at the Britannia and United fail to win against Bournemouth. Also, a draw could be enough for them if other results go their way.
#5 Southampton (7th, 60 points)
The Saints will qualify for the Europa League 3rd qualifying in their current position unless Crystal Palace win the FA Cup. 5th could be their highest position come the end of the day if West Ham fail to defeat Stoke and United lose to Saint's south coast rivals Bournemouth.
Being the League's 2nd best team in 2016 after champions Leicester City, the Saints will be confident of taking all 3 points at home against a stuttering Crystal Palace side that have won only 2 times in their last 20 games.
#6 Liverpool (8th, 59 points)
The reds have endured another poor domestic campaign as they fell way short of the top 4. However, they could yet enter Europe's elite competition by lifting the Europa League next week.
Defeat in Basel and 8th place finish will see Liverpool miss out on Europe altogether, but Jurgen Klopp's men can still climb up to 6th to qualify for Europe even if they lose to Sevilla in the final of the Europa League.
#7 Crystal Palace (14th, 42 points)
The Eagles have fallen away since the start of the year and have been listless at times. However, they can qualify for the Europa League group stage if they beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 21st May.
