An unusual scenario could see as many as 10 Premier League teams, half of the championship, secure participation in European competitions next season.
With less than three weeks to go until the end of the season, the battle is not just for the title between Arsenal and Manchester City, but also for the places leading to the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
Currently, the top five teams in the standings secure a place in the Champions League, while sixth and seventh place qualify for the Europa League and Conference League respectively. However, this number could increase significantly.
One of the most talked-about scenarios involves Aston Villa. If the team finishes fifth and wins the Europa League at the same time, then sixth place in the Premier League could also secure an additional Champions League spot, bringing the number of English teams in Europe's elite to six.
The FA Cup could also have a significant impact on the distribution of European places. If Manchester City win the trophy, or Chelsea triumph and finish in the top seven, then seventh place would lead to the Europa League and eighth place to the Conference League.
The scenario becomes even more extraordinary if Nottingham Forest wins the Europa League and Crystal Palace triumphs in the Conference League, without finishing in the top seven or eight in the league.
In this case, Nottingham Forest would secure a place in the Champions League, while Crystal Palace a place in the Europa League, making a full 10 English teams playing in Europe next season, a situation almost unprecedented in the history of the Premier League.
