Liverpool seal UCL spot; Sunderland nab European berth as Chelsea miss out

Liverpool secured the Premier League's fifth and final Champions League berth with a 1-1 draw against Brentford on the final day of the season Sunday.

Outgoing club icon Mohamed Salah provided an assist on Curtis Jones' goal that helped the Reds finish fifth in the table.

Bournemouth and Sunderland will head to the Europa League next season, with the Black Cats making a dramatic leap up the standings following a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. With the loss, the Blues finished 10th and missed out on Europe entirely, meaning incoming boss Xabi Alonso will only have domestic competitions to focus on next year.

Brighton & Hove Albion finished eighth and will take part in the 2026-27 Conference League despite losing to Manchester United in their finale.

Had Aston Villa finished fifth in the table, then sixth place would've been enough for Bournemouth to get a Champions League spot after their incredible unbeaten run to end the campaign.

But Unai Emery's Europa League winners defeated Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday to lock up fourth spot.

Brentford, meanwhile, spurned a late scoring opportunity at Anfield that would've given them a 2-1 victory and a place in Europe in dramatic fashion.

The Premier League could have nine clubs in Europe next season if Crystal Palace, who finished 15th in the table, beat Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday. A win in that contest would automatically send the Eagles to next year's Europa League.