Manchester United are among the clubs hoping that the Premier League is granted an extra Champions League qualifying place next season as the new format kicks off
Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their hopes of Champions League qualification after a setback for English clubs in Europe.
Liverpool were the only winners in their Europa League round of 16 match, with a 5-1 victory over Sparta Prague. However, West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion both suffered defeats, making it a tough night for Premier League sides on Thursday.
SC Freiburg scored in the 81st minute from Michael Gregoritsch to get revenge on West Ham in their first-leg, after the London side had beaten the Bundesliga club twice in the group stage. United-linked Roberto De Zerbi’s return to Italy was not a happy one as Brighton lost 4-0 to last year’s Europa League finalists Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
From the 2024/25 season, the Champions League will grow its group stages from 32 teams to 36 teams, after a format change from UEFA. It could mean England get an extra place in the competition, with two of the extra spots going to the countries that rank highest in UEFA’s coefficient ranking.
This ranking is based on how each team from the participating nations does in the three UEFA competitions; the Champions League, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League. Before the round of 16 first-leg matches, both Spain and England were set to get the extra qualifying positions ahead of Italy and Germany – but the rankings updated on Friday could change this, reports football.london.
Liverpool put five past Prague, with Darwin Nunez scoring twice. Mohamed Salah, returning from injury ahead of Sunday’s title race showdown against Manchester City, had a goal disallowed after VAR deemed he was offside.
Dominik Szoboszlai also scored in the last few minutes of the game after Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz were on the scoresheet for Jurgen Klopp’s team. Brighton kicked off at the same time but it didn’t go well for the Seagulls as the experienced Italian side beat them easily. Paulo Dybala, who has been linked with a move to England, was among the goalscorers while on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku was also on target for Roma.
Aston Villa managed to grab a draw against Ajax in Amsterdam. Unai Emery’s team are currently in the last Champions League spot in the Premier League – they’re five points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.
Both sides ended the game with 10 players after Ezri Konsa was given a red card and while Tristan Gooijer was also shown his marching orders for Ajax, just three minutes later. The second games for the Europa League and Europa Conference League will be next Thursday (March 14).
United, Spurs and Newcastle United are circling the European places in the hope of securing Champions League qualification as the league gets closer to the end. If English clubs suffer in the coefficient rankings, one of the Premier League trio could face the consequences…..
