Newcastle United saw one route back into Europe closed after losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United at Wembley.
Beaten 2-0 by Eric ten Hag's side, the Magpies gave themselves a mountain to climb after falling behind to Casemiro and Marcus Rashford's goals in the final showpiece. The result meant that Man United have at least guaranteed themselves a place in the Europa Conference League next season after taking up the place on offer with their cup win in the capital.
However, all is not lost for Eddie Howe's side when it comes to qualifying for Continental competition again for the first time since 2012/13. For a start, Newcastle are still in contention for the Champions League despite falling behind Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs have taken over in fourth place in recent games and bolstered their chances of the top four with a 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday at home. They have a four-point lead over Newcastle but the Magpies have two games in hand.
Howe's side are still 6/4 with a clutch of bookies to make UEFA's top table next season. Failing that Newcastle currently hold a Europa League spot in fifth place. Fulham squandered a chance to close the gap on Newcastle after being held by Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Friday night and Newcastle hold a two point lead over the Cottages.
If Man United finish in the top five of the Premier League (or top six if (a) happens), their Europa Conference League place will go to the next-highest ranked team not qualified for UEFA competitions in the Premier League.
The Premier League rulebook also states: "Should a Premier League club win the UEFA Champions League they will automatically qualify for the group stage of next season's competition regardless of their league finishing position.
"Should a Premier League club win the UEFA Europa League they will automatically qualify for the group stage of next season's UEFA Champions League regardless of their league finishing position.
"If a club win the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League and finish in the top four, their qualification for the UCL through their league position is not transferred to another team.
"A maximum of five Premier League teams are eligible for UEFA Champions League qualification.
"In the event that a Premier League club win the UEFA Champions League and another win the UEFA Europa League and neither of these clubs finish in the top four of the Premier League, the club lying fourth in the table will drop into the UEFA Europa League group stage.
"If a Premier League club win the UEFA Champions League and another win the UEFA Europa League and neither have qualified for UEFA competitions through their league positions or by winning the FA Cup or EFL Cup, they will qualify for the UEFA Champions League and the club finishing fourth in the table will drop into the UEFA Europa League group stage.
"This UEFA Europa League group stage place will be in addition to the one for the club finishing fifth and to the places in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League for the FA Cup and EFL Cup winners (or for the highest-ranked clubs not qualified for UEFA competitions in the Premier League if the FA Cup and EFL Cup winners have already qualified for UEFA competitions through their league position)."
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