Major change to Champions League means brilliant news for Premier League teams

THE Premier League has confirmed that FIVE clubs can qualify for the Champions League through league position at the end of the upcoming 2023/24 season for the first time ever.

A change in format for the competition has seen it expand from 32 to 36 teams in a new "Swiss League" format from 2024/25.

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Traditionally, the Premier League's representation in the Champions League has been determined by the top four.

And with the format change, England's allocation has been increased from four to five.

However, there is a catch.

This being that additional spots are allocated to the two countries who performed best in Europe the season before.

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Thanks to Manchester City's first-ever victory in the Champions League and West Ham's win in the Europa Conference League, the Prem would have inherited an extra place for this season.

This means, based on last season's table, Liverpool would have joined Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle in achieving qualification.

In fact, in five of the past six seasons - or seven of the last 11 - England would have been handed an extra spot for being among the best two performing nations.

The rule change could even see an incredible SEVEN teams qualify for Europe's most illustrious club competition.

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But this would require both the Champions League winners and Europa League winners to finish outside of the top five in the Premier League.

The upcoming European campaign will be the final season for the eight groups of four clubs layout fans are used to.

Under the Swiss League format, each club will play eight matches in the opening phase - two more than at present - against seeded opposition to ensure teams play opponents of similar stature.

The top eight from the final table will progress to the knockout stage automatically.

They will then be joined by the eight winners of the play-offs between sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.

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