COEFFICIENT RANKINGS EXPLAINED: WILL THE PREMIER LEAGUE GET A FIFTH UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE NEXT SEASON?

Will the Premier League get a fifth UEFA Champions League place next season? With the battle hotting up in Europe, we run through all you need to know about the coefficient rankings and how they work. With the Champions League expanding next season, there are extra spots up for grabs, but will one of those go to the Premier League or another league in Europe?The Premier League was dealt a huge blow in its battle with Serie A and the Bundesliga for a fifth spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League after Manchester City and Arsenal were dumped out of Europe.
The UEFA Champions League will be changing format next season and expanding from 32 teams to 36.
Two leagues will get an extra place in the competition based on performances in Europe this season, which are measured by the coefficient rankings.But how do the coefficient rankings work? Where’s the Premier League in the rankings? What fixtures could be crucial to deciding the coefficient rankings? And will a Premier League team get an extra Champions League place next season?
We answer everything you need to know…

The coefficient rankings are determined by points gained from clubs across the current season’s UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.
Teams get coefficient points for winning games and reaching different stages of the competitions.
For example, a match win in any of the three European competitions at any stage after qualifying is worth two points and a draw is worth one point.Teams that make the last 16 of the Champions League get five bonus points, and then one more point for each further round. Teams in the Europa League get one bonus point for each round from the last 16, and in the Conference League there is one bonus point on offer for reaching the semi-final and final.
The total amount of coefficient points gained by clubs from a league are then added together and that score is divided by the number of clubs that league has in Europe in the season.
The Premier League has had eight clubs in Europe this season and has a total of 135 coefficient points. Therefore the coefficient average is currently 16.875 (135 ÷ 8).

Italy (18.428) currently lead the coefficient rankings and are in pole position to secure an extra place in next season’s Champions League.
Behind, Germany (17.642) moved into solo second after Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund both progressed through to the Champions League semi-finals.
England (16.875) were tied with Germany but suffered a setback after the European exits of Arsenal and Manchester City.
Spain are in fourth on 15.312 and France sit fifth on 15.250, with both nations still able to close the gap on the top three.
Real Madrid are still in the running for a record-extending 15th Champions League crown, while Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to stun Barcelona to reach the last four.
In total, France have three teams left in Europe – PSG (CL), Marseille (EL), Lille (ECL) – while Spain only have Real Madrid after Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were beaten.

Italy currently have four teams remaining in Europe – Atalanta (EL), AC Milan (EL), Roma (EL) and Fiorentina (ECL) – and Germany have three in Bayern Munich (CL), Borussia Dortmund (CL) and Bayer Leverkusen (EL).
England’s hopes now rest with Liverpool and West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League.

Manchester City and Arsenal were both dumped out of Europe on Wednesday on a dramatic night of UEFA Champions League action. Holders City lost to Real Madrid on penalties, while Arsenal were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich.
Liverpool face Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday and West Ham play Bayer Leverkusen.
Aston Villa meet Lille in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday.
All games will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Depending on results going forward, the defeats of Manchester City and Arsenal in the last eight could prove to be pivotal in deciding which league gets the extra Champions League spot, especially as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich progressed.
And the hits could keep coming. If newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen can convert their 2-0 first-leg advantage into a win over West Ham in their Europa League quarter-final, the Premier League would be dealt a further blow, while Liverpool trail Atalanta 3-0 ahead of the second leg.
Aston Villa are among the favourites to win the Conference League but that is unlikely to be enough on its own.
Italy have a strong contingent in the Europa League but are guaranteed to lose a side as Roma and AC Milan are meeting in the quarters.

The Champions League is changing next season to a format that will see 36 clubs participate in a new league phase.