Premier League clubs had a tough time in Europe last season. Despite being branded as the best league in the world, the English top flight had all of its representatives in the continent’s top-tier competition eliminated by the quarterfinals.
Reigning champions Manchester City lost to eventual winners Real Madrid in the last eight, while Arsenal was unceremoniously dumped out by Bayern Munich. If that wasn’t bad enough, England’s two other competitors were eliminated in the group stage, with both Manchester United and Newcastle United finishing bottom of their group.
It was a similar story in both the Europa League and the Conference League as well. Both Liverpool and West Ham United were eliminated in the quarterfinals, while Brighton was sent packing by Roma in the round of 16. Aston Villa at least made it to the semifinals of the Conference League, but there they were soundly dispatched by eventual champions Olympiacos, who won 6-2 on aggregate.
But with a new campaign on the horizon, new opportunities arrive. Here are the Premier League representatives in Europe next season.
Champions League
Reigning Premier League holders Manchester City head into the Champions League as joint-favourites for the trophy alongside Real Madrid. They have won the English title in each of the last four years, and they will be aiming to add a fifth straight to their overflowing trophy cabinet, as well as a second European crown in three seasons. In Erling Haaland, they have a man who will go down as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history when all is said and done, and he will be looking to add more goals next season in City’s hunt for numerous trophies.
They will be joined by an ever-improving Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in the top flight to City in each of the last two seasons. Liverpool finished third last term and they too will feature in the Champions League, albeit without iconic manager Jurgen Klopp. He surprisingly walked away from the club at the end of last season, and new man Arne Slot will be aiming to impress, especially in the competition that is held closest to the hearts of Reds supporters.
The Premier League’s final Champions League qualifier is Aston Villa. Inspired by the brilliance of striker Ollie Watkins, the West Midlands club qualified for the tournament for the first time since its rebranding in the early 1990s, and they will be aiming to reach the latter stages and prove that they belong.
Europa League
Qualifiers for Europe’s three competitions are still ongoing, with the latest Europa League qualification odds making the likes of Ajax and Braga favourites for their respective clashes. Two such teams that don’t have to worry are Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom have already reached the group stage of the competition following their domestic performances last term.
The Red Devils managed to secure their spot in Europe’s secondary competition after defeating cross-city rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final. It looked as though Erik Ten Hag’s side would be consigned to a season without European football after finishing eighth in the Premier League, but their cup victory secured a spot in the Europa League, pushing Newcastle out of the European places despite them finishing above the Red Devils in the league.
Spurs also qualified with a fifth-place finish under Ange Postocoglu. For those in North London however, they will be somewhat disappointed as the aim was always a spot in the top four.
Conference League
Another team that suffered courtesy of Manchester United’s FA Cup victory was Chelsea. They finished sixth last season and would have featured in the Europa League had Manchester City emerged victorious at Wembley. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and now the Blues faithful can look forward to potential trips to face the likes of Spartak Trnava and Olimpija Ljubljana in the Conference League.
