Several Premier League Teams Eye Champions League Amid Imminent Bonus Spot

As seven out of seven English sides progressed through their corresponding league phases, the Premier League is likely to be rewarded with an extra Champions League qualification spot for the 2025-26 season. Subsequently, some teams have been handed renewed energy in the race for a top-five finish.

Top-Four Pressure Could Ease Up

With Liverpool and Arsenal each respectively almost nailed on to achieve a top-four finish (Liverpool at 1/1000 and Arsenal at 1/66), this leaves the teams in the following pack licking their lips at the prospect of an additional Champions League spot.

First up are a side that has taken the league by storm, Nottingham Forest. Having a miraculous campaign, they find themselves in a great position to achieve UCL football. However, the looming question is whether they'll be able to maintain their incredible form to finish in a top-four position.

As such, the Premier League being rewarded with the fifth qualifying spot may be their safety net. Their odds remain good to claim top four at 8/5, though.

Chelsea will be thinking the same as Forest with that fifth spot looking like room for a potential struggle. A struggle is what they are in themselves at the moment as performances have been subpar as of late. However, it must be noted they are still very much in the top-four conversation, being in fourth currently with 8/15 odds to stay there.

A side who in recent years have had no issue with qualifying for the Champions League, namely Manchester City, will now be graciously glaring at the coefficient rankings. A season of disarray has found themselves way below expectations.

Pep Guardiola and his team will now almost certainly benefit from the extra spot and see it as a potential season-saver. However, maybe surprisingly, their odds are great to climb up into the top four at 4/7.

Finally, Newcastle United find themselves in the conversation for UCL qualification once again. A team who recently welcomed Champions League football back to their home looks as eager as ever to repeat the feat.

Being the only side still competing on all domestic fronts, having a squad as light as theirs means the fifth spit will be of huge appreciation. The furthest shot out of the lot for a top-four finish at 9/4.

Could Aston Villa and Bournemouth Get Involved?

The aforementioned teams, Chelsea and Manchester City, have especially good odds to remain inside the top six at the conclusion of the 24/25 Premier League season (both at 1/8). Therefore, there are other candidates that will actually benefit from an extra UCL spot.

Forest and Newcastle are no doubt a couple of them as their odds, whilst still good, leave a bit more reason for doubt. Forest despite currently being third, have their odds at 1/4 and Newcastle at 4/9. Both you would assume will claim a top-six spot based on their recent respective forms.

However, the chasing sides are increasing in quality and self-belief that they can stake a claim for European football next season.

Aston Villa are one of those sides who seemed to have let their current expeditions in the Champions League get the better of them as they sit in eighth. January additions to the squad have made people turn their heads with many expecting a second-half-of-the-season surge up the table. Their odds are at a reasonable 7/2.

Another side that have caused many problems to the top teams in the division this season are Bournemouth. Currently in seventh, just a point behind the Magpies in sixth, they have a very good chance to bring European football to the Vitality for the very first time. A top-six finish is at 9/10 for the Cherries.

Main Beneficiaries of the Additional UCL Spot

After taking a look at the relevant odds of the Premier League teams in and around the Champions League area, including those chasing, it's still difficult to narrow the teams down to just two clear candidates that will benefit from the extra ticket.

Instead, with the league as close as it is points-wise many teams are likely to benefit, with Forest, Chelsea, City and Newcastle being the most likely at this current moment in time. However, a late surge from a revitalised Villa, or a continued run in impressive form from Bournemouth could easily result in either benefitting.