Europe...

DAN RIPLEY FOR MAILONLINE wrote:Europa League qualification explained: How Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton can see their party ruined by Aston Villa. 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] set for Europa League scrap. But only maximum two of the three can reach group stage automatically 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] winning the FA Cup would dent European hopes of the trio 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] set to qualify for the tournament via the Fair Play League

Much of the focus on the final day of the Premier League season will be on the battle to avoid relegation as Newcastle United and Hull City desperately hope to avoid the drop into the Championship. 
But there's much to play for elsewhere as places in next season's Europa League are still up for grabs.
There's plenty of incentive to finish fifth instead of seventh to qualify for Europe, as it could prove the difference between reaching the group stages or going through a gruelling two qualifying rounds first.
With many factors to consider, Sportsmail looks at the possible scenarios that can play out on the final day of the season and beyond. 

Liverpool will enter the Europa League at the group stages next season if they win at Stoke City on the final day.
But failure to defeat the Potters would mean Tottenham and Southampton victories could push them down to seventh.
If Arsenal win the FA Cup then seventh would still ensure the Reds enter the Europa League at the third qualifying stage.
Should Villa taste Wembley glory then Brendan Rodgers' side could still qualify for Europe via the Fair Play League.

EUROPA LEAGUE - HOW THE FA CUP AFFECTS THE FINAL PLACINGS

If Arsenal win the FA Cup...
Fifth and sixth spot in the Premier League will qualify for the group stage, seventh place will enter in the third qualifying round .
If Aston Villa win the FA Cup...
Fifth will enter the group stage along with Aston Villa. Sixth place will enter in the third qualifying round with seventh denied a European spot.


Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton are separated by just two points in the Barclays Premier League table heading into the final game of the season as they vie for automatic Europa League spots


Spurs only need to match Southampton's result on the final day to secure a fifth straight season in the Europa League, but must win at Everton and hope Liverpool fail to triumph to guarantee a group stage spot. 
Sixth could also prove enough though, but only if Arsenal win the FA Cup. So the Gunners lifting silverware at Wembley might not be a bad thing for Spurs after all.
Sadio Mane's record breaking hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Aston Villa has helped keep Southampton within touching distance of a guaranteed Europa League spot on the final day of the season


Southampton need to win and hope Liverpool and Tottenham fail to grab victory to secure a group stage spot in fifth on the final day. Three points for the Saints at Manchester City could still lift them to sixth if only one of Liverpool or Tottenham meet the above criteria.

ROAD TO THE GROUP STAGES 

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND: Two legs played on July 2 and 9 
SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND: Two legs played on July 16 and 23
THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND: Two legs played on July 30 and August 6
PLAY-OFF ROUND: Two legs played on August 20 and 27
Group stage begins on September 17 


The joker in the pack. Aston Villa will qualify for the Europa League group stage if they defeat Arsenal in the FA Cup final
The Villans' possible first trophy since 1996 would mean sixth place in the Premier League enters the Europa League in the third qualifying round and seventh would miss out on Europe altogether.
But if Arsenal retain the FA Cup, then fifth and sixth place in the Premier League would enter the Europa League group stage with seventh place being given a chance to enter at the third qualifying round.


Sam Allardyce's team are set to benefit from the extra European place handed to the Premier League via the Fair Play League. Liverpool could steal the final spot from them though if the Reds top the fair play table and finish seventh in the top flight, along with Aston Villa winning the FA Cup.

Admin wrote:Hopefully it will be a Swedish team , all round Geezers for a jolly