Chelsea have new hope in their pursuit of Champions League football, with six Premier League teams still able to qualify for Europe’s premier cup competition.
The Blues’ chances of finishing in the top five are mathematically over following a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of a much-changed Nottingham Forest side on Monday, which was their sixth consecutive loss in the Premier League.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have all secured their spot at Europe’s top table next season, with Liverpool and Aston Villa firm favourites to round out the top five.
The Premier League’s top five are guaranteed Champions League football next season, with England set to top UEFA's European Performance Spots (EPS) for the second season running.
EPS awards extra places in the Champions League to the two leagues with the best overall record across their three European competitions each season.
But sixth place could also earn a backdoor route to the Champions League .
Bournemouth currently sit sixth in the Premier League standings, six points off Aston Villa in fifth and one point ahead of Brentford and two points ahead of Brighton.
Chelsea are down in ninth, four points off sixth and significant outsiders to leapfrog their rivals in the final three games of the season.
But hope remains, and it’s all down to Aston Villa winning the Europa League... and finishing fifth.
Villa on Thursday thumped Forest to reach the Europa League final, and the winners of that competition automatically qualify for the Champions League.
If Villa finish in fourth spot, or higher and win the Europa League, then there is no change to the qualification spots. Villa would qualify for the Champions League as Europa League winners and via their Premier League finish.
However, if Villa finish in the fifth EPS-awarded spot and win the Europa League, they would qualify for the Champions League as Europa League winners while the EPS spot would move to the team below them in sixth. Where Bournemouth currently sit.
Chelsea’s recent form means they are by no means guaranteed to finish sixth, with Brentford and Brighton both ahead of them in the table.
Calum McFarlane’s team realistically must win their three remaining games - away at Liverpool, at home to Tottenham and then away at Sunderland on the final day - and hope the three teams drops points in at least two of their three remaining games.
