Fans fear for Premier League’s fifth Champions League spot after tricky Europa League draw

FANS fear the Premier League could miss out on a fifth Champions League spot after English teams were dealt a tricky Europa League draw.

Uefa’s expansion of the Champions League next season means there will be an extra automatic place from the domestic leagues of the two best-performing countries across the three European competitions.

West Ham and Brighton could play a big role in boosting the Premier League’s coefficient

England stood in third, narrowly behind second-placed Germany, at the end of the group phase in December.

But the Prem’s coefficient ranking will be boosted if English clubs continue to progress in European competition this season.

However Arsenal are in danger of Champions League elimination after losing the first leg of their second round tie with Porto 1-0.

While Brighton have now been handed a tricky tie against Roma, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022.

Liverpool will be expected to beat Sparta Prague but West Ham face a challenging test in Freiburg.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have been paired with Ajax in the Conference League draw.

Fans fear the Premier League’s coefficient will take a hit if Brighton and West Ham exit the Europa League in the next round, particularly the Hammers as opponents Freiburg play in the Bundesliga and a win for them would push Germany further ahead of England.

One supporter reacted to the draw saying: “Premier League’s coefficient is finished if West Ham and Brighton both go out. More damaging if West Ham go out.”

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Another added: “West Ham have an easy draw….more sad for Brighton”

And a Chelsea fan wrote: “It’s looking long for our chances of Europe if we lose this Sunday.”

Uefa’s coefficient ranking sees all the match and bonus points acquired by a country’s clubs divided by the number of teams involved at the start of the season – with England and Spain both having the maximum possible eight.

It meant that City’s win over Copenhagen and a potential Arsenal win at Porto can earn England a maximum 0.5 ranking points.

By contrast, Germany with five teams in action, could have earned 2.142pts, France (five clubs) 3.167pts, Spain (six clubs) 1.5pts and Italy (five teams) 2.286pts.

The Premier League was not helped by Man Utd and Newcastle’s last-placed finishes in the Champions League group stage, which saw them exit Europe altogether.