The race to climb into the Champions League spots has by no means felt so wide-open.

The days of the Premier League’s so-called Big Four – Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool – are lengthy gone.

And, with the highest flight returning this weekend from the October worldwide break, these sides perched simply exterior the highest 4 know ending in fifth has an added layer of significance.

UEFA has accepted the ultimate format and entry listing for European membership competitions from subsequent season onwards – and two Champions League spots will to go associations with one of the best collective efficiency by their golf equipment within the earlier marketing campaign.

A phrase of warning…

The Premier League has eight golf equipment in Europe this season after West Ham received the Europa Conference League. As they did not qualify domestically, it means each win by an English membership shall be value barely much less to the coefficient rating owing to it being a median rating of eight golf equipment fairly than seven (I did not make up the foundations).

The final time England had eight golf equipment in Europe, in 2015-16, it solely completed third within the season’s coefficient rating, as each Southampton and West Ham did not make it by way of the qualifying rounds. With all eight of this season’s golf equipment safely within the group levels, nonetheless, there ought to be higher information this time round.

In a substantial blow to LaLiga’s coefficient, Osasuna did not make the group stage of the Europa Conference League, so the highest line is that from right here it will take a really poor season for the Premier League to not get 5 locations.

Eight matchweeks in, how is the battle shaping up?

So, we’ve established the 2 leagues which have one of the best coefficients this season will get a further place within the Champions League group stage subsequent season.

If England is one in all them, fifth within the Premier League will qualify. To stress, particular person membership coefficient is not related, and the place shall be awarded to the subsequent workforce within the home desk.

The Premier League has been within the high two in six of the previous seven seasons (in 2019-20, Germany pipped England to second by a solitary victory), in order that’s excellent news for the likes of Aston Villa, Brighton, West Ham and Newcastle who’re at the moment occupying fifth to eighth locations within the division.

5. Aston Villa (16 factors)

Aston Villa are getting used to Thursday-Sunday soccer. In truth, all of their subsequent 5 Premier League video games fall on a Sunday owing to their Europa League commitments.

Having negotiated difficult opening fixtures, profitable away at Chelsea and Burnley, Unai Emery’s facet will now look to capitalise on a beneficial run of matches.

What is extra, Villa have received 10 consecutive Premier League matches at Villa Park and three of their subsequent 4 fixtures are at residence.

That stated, West Ham are able to derailing them upon the restart given their counter-attacking qualities and Emery’s choice of a excessive line of defense.

Next 4 fixtures: West Ham (H) reside on Sky Sports, Luton (H), Nottingham Forest (A) reside on Sky Sports, Fulham (H)

6. Brighton (16 factors)

Brighton, everybody’s second workforce for his or her goalscoring exploits, are degree on factors with Villa however their type has tailed off considerably.

Roberto De Zerbi’s males have received simply one in all their final six video games in all competitions, together with a chastening 6-1 loss to Villa and a house defeat to AEK Athens.

The Seagulls have shipped 15 targets in these six video games and return from the break with a visit to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s facet have suffered consecutive Premier League defeats, and they’ll need an emphatic response in entrance of their residence followers.

It ought to be an entertaining affair given Brighton have scored a minimum of as soon as in 24 consecutive league matches. Looking additional forward, De Zerbi shall be grateful the upcoming double-header in Europe with Ajax is adopted by two winnable residence video games towards Fulham and Sheffield United respectively.

Next 4 fixtures: Man City (A), Fulham (H), Everton (A), Sheff Utd (H)

7. West Ham (14 factors)

West Ham have probably the hardest set of returning fixtures, with Sunday’s journey to Villa Park kicking issues off. David Moyes’ facet face a tough 22-day interval that features two Europa League video games and a Carabao Cup residence tie towards Arsenal.

The Hammers sit seventh partly because of having already crushed Sheffield United and Luton – however they’ve concurrently confronted the second-most pictures within the league (147) and had the third-highest Expected Goals Against (xGA) on 16.3.

Villa have turned their residence floor right into a fortress whereas enhancing Everton’s xG of 14.7 is simply 0.2 shy of Man City’s complete. The subsequent 4 matches will decide whether or not West Ham’s first eight matches have offered a false narrative.

Next 4 fixtures: Aston Villa (A) reside on Sky Sports, Everton (H) reside on Sky Sports, Brentford (A), Nottingham Forest (H) reside on Sky Sports

8. Newcastle (13 factors)

Newcastle misplaced three consecutive league matches earlier this season, however that wobble seems to be behind them with Eddie Howe’s facet having received 5 of their final seven in all competitions.

The Magpies now face a run of seven matches in 22 days with 4 Premier League matches interrupted by a Champions League double-header towards Borussia Dortmund.

Newcastle’s historic 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain preceded a draw at West Ham during which fatigue was noticeable, so Howe must handle his squad additional over the approaching weeks.

That has not be helped by information that Sandro Tonali faces a lengthy ban from football after admitting to betting on AC Milan matches whereas a participant on the Italian membership. Howe shall be boosted by the return of Anthony Gordon from suspension whereas Sven Botman is near a return from a knee damage.

Crystal Palace, Wolves, Arsenal and Bournemouth are subsequent within the Premier League. Despite Newcastle claiming fourth spot final season, they took simply three factors from the corresponding fixtures final season.

Next 4 fixtures: Crystal Palace (H), Wolves (A) reside on Sky Sports, Arsenal (H) reside on Sky Sports, Bournemouth (A) reside on Sky Sports

When do we discover out who will get the additional locations?

We’re solely in October, so it’s far too early to even predict which sides will nonetheless be in European competition come the top of the season. However, the image will turn out to be quite a bit clearer on all fronts by March, as soon as we all know which leagues have groups by way of to the quarter-finals of the three European competitions.

But it may effectively go proper right down to the ultimate kick. In 2019/20, the Bundesliga did not overtake the Premier League for second place till Bayern Munich overcame Paris Saint-Germain within the last of the Champions League. This season’s showpiece takes place on June 1 at Wembley, for a change.

Wouldn’t it’s enjoyable if Arsenal received the Champions League at hand fifth-placed Tottenham entry by way of the again door? Ange Postecoglou shall be hoping qualification is assured lengthy earlier than then.

What if the CL winners end exterior high 4?

Previously, there was a most of 5 golf equipment from one affiliation that would play within the Champions League.

That meant, within the unlikely situation the place groups from the identical league received the Champions League and Europa League – whereas ending exterior the Champions League locations domestically – then fourth must give up their place and drop into the Europa League.

Not anymore.

It is now doable that seven Premier League groups can earn a spot within the Champions League: The high 5, and the winners of Europe’s high two membership competitions.

And if we actually wished to have some enjoyable, we are able to lengthen this to all three European competitions to disclose that the Premier League may have as many as 11 groups enjoying continental soccer subsequent season: The typical allocation of seven, plus the additional Champions League place and the winners of all three European competitions, offered they completed exterior a European place.

How to watch Premier League highlights

This season you’ll be able to watch Premier League highlights simply after the full-time whistle without spending a dime and with out being a Sky Sports subscriber.

We’ll convey you highlights of each Premier League sport on the Sky Sports web site and app at full-time or from 5.15pm on Saturday afternoons.

You’ll additionally be capable to watch In-game targets from Sky Live video games on Twitter and catch Premier League highlights on our Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

Upcoming televised Premier League schedule in full…

October 21: Chelsea vs Arsenal, kick-off 5.30pm

October 21: Sheff Utd vs Man Utd, kick-off 8pm

October 22: Aston Villa vs West Ham, kick-off 4.30pm

October 23: Tottenham vs Fulham, kick-off 8pm

October 27: Wolves vs Newcastle, kick-off 5.30pm

October 29: West Ham vs Everton, kick-off 1pm

October 29: Man Utd vs Man City, kick-off 3.30pm

November 4: Newcastle vs Arsenal, kick-off 5.30pm

November 5: Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa, kick-off 2pm

November 5: Luton vs Liverpool, kick-off 4.30pm

November 6: Tottenham vs Chelsea, kick-off 8pm

November 11: Bournemouth vs Newcastle, kick-off 5.30pm

November 12: West Ham vs Nottingham Forest, kick-off 2pm

November 12: Chelsea vs Man City, kick-off 4.30pm

November 25: Man City vs Liverpool, kick-off 12.30pm

November 26: Tottenham vs Aston Villa, kick-off 2pm

November 26: Everton vs Man Utd, kick-off 4.30pm

November 27: Fulham vs Wolves, kick-off 8pm