Can Chelsea still qualify for Champions League next season after 1-1 draw with Liverpool?

Chelsea’s winless run in the Premier League continued on Saturday after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the Anfield Stadium.

The FIFA Club World Cup winner has not won in its last seven games in the English top flight, and sits in ninth place with 49 points. A win for 10th-placed Everton later in the week would see Chelsea drop another place.

Mathematically, Chelsea cannot end in the top five in the Premier League. However, it can still make it to the top European competition next season.

Chelsea’s fate rests on Aston Villa.

According to the European Performance Spot, England and Spain will have five teams in the Champions League.

However, if Villa wins the Europa League, it will secure a Champions League spot irrespective of its league finish. Since Villa is in the top five currently, the Unai Emery side winning the Europa League will allow a sixth English team to qualify.

Hence, if Villa wins the Europa League, Chelsea can qualify if it finishes sixth in the league. Though still mathematically possible, even this scenario is unlikely as Chelsea needs to win both its remaining games and hope other teams in front – Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion – slip up.

Published on May 09, 2026