UEFA issues ‘comforting’ statement on Champions League spots for Premier League clubs

Liverpool players celebrating in the Champions League match against Roma. [Photo: Courtesy]

UEFA has issued a statement seeking to clarify the grounds on which English Premier League clubs will be picked to play in Uefa Champions League next season.

Statement indicates that all teams that shall have finished in the top four positions will be able to play in the group stages of Champions League in 2018/2019 season.

This is regardless of whether Liverpool wins Champions League against Real Madrid at the same time finishing outside the top four bracket.

Tottenham players Harry Kane and Delle Alli in a past action. Club angles to play Champions League next season. [Photo/Courtesy]

As revealed by Sky Sports, its statements goes:

"The Champions League titleholder is guaranteed a place in the group stage, even if it does not qualify for the competition through its domestic championship.”

"This allocation does not affect the ones of its national association. In that particular case with Liverpool, as the Champions League titleholder, not qualified to the competition through its domestic championship, the association may be represented by five clubs in the competition.”

"Those are UCL titleholder, top domestic competition's winner, runner-up, third and fourth-placed clubs."

This is a reprieve for the three teams-Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea which are currently gunning to secure top four finish slot.

Liverpool could tie with Chelsea on points (75) should they win their last game while Chelsea secures six points on their remaining two matches.

But with a superior goal difference, the Reds have little to worry about let alone playing in the Champions League final. Tottenham have two games in hand and are four points ahead of Chelsea. Any draw or loss could jeopardize their chances to play in Europe next season.

Chelsea is engaged in last minute battle for top four spot. [Photo/Courtesy]

In 2012, Chelsea won the Champions League despite finishing sixth on the domestic league, and such meant that Spurs which finished fourth had to be sent to Europa League.