Liverpool celebrates with life-changing good news after Arsenal's win over Sporting in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals first leg.
On 8 April 2026, Liverpool and other Premier League clubs received the latest good news after securing a special qualification spot for the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive year, ensuring at least five teams will compete in the UCL next season.
This special spot was confirmed on Tuesday night after Arsenal defeated Sporting Lisbon 1-0 away in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals first leg.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) grants special qualification slots to the two leagues with the best overall performance across all three European club competitions: the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.
The Premier League has held the number one spot all season in the coefficient table, or European Performance Spot (EPS), after nine teams across the three competitions reached the round of 16, earning strong combined coefficient points from the league phase performances. Five clubs remain in the quarterfinals.
1. England 25.013 (secured special UCL spot) *5 of 9 teams remain
2. Spain 20.281 *6 of 8 teams remain
-----------------------
3. Germany 19.714 *3 of 7 teams remain
4. Portugal 18.900 *3 of 5 teams remain
5. Italy 18.714 *2 of 7 teams remain
Another league still contesting for the special UCL spot is expected to be a competition between Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, and Portugal's Primeira Liga.
Meanwhile, England will have teams finishing 1st to 5th in the Premier League table qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, with the top five race still open among the top 13 teams as follows.
1. Arsenal 70 points
2. Manchester City 61 points
3. Manchester United 55 points
4. Aston Villa 54 points
5. Liverpool 49 points
6. Chelsea 48 points
7. Brentford 46 points
8. Everton 46 points
9. Fulham 44 points
10. Brighton 43 points
11. Sunderland 43 points
12. Newcastle 42 points
13. Bournemouth 42 points