All eyes will be on the race for the Champions League on Sunday as the Premier League season reaches its climax.
With the title already secured by Liverpool and Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester relegated, the battle is on to join Arne Slot’s champions and Arsenal in qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
While Tottenham have also qualified through winning the Europa League, there are still five teams competing for the remaining three Champions League slots – with just three points between them.
Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea are currently in the driving seat to complete England’s Champions League six, but, with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest breathing down their necks, it promising to be a nervy finale.
With around £100m up for grabs for the qualifiers – compared to around £30m in the Europa League – success on Sunday means a lot more to certain clubs financially and more to others for emotional reasons.
BBC football finance expert Kieran Maguire, said: “From a financial perspective, Champions League qualification for most of the clubs is desirable rather than essential, but for some it is more desirable than others.
“While most Premier League clubs seem to be in a better position than in summer 2024 in terms of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) compliance, there could be one or two having to balance the books by the financial year end, which is usually 30th June.”
BBC Sport take a closer look at what qualifying for the Champions League – or not – means for each club both financially and emotionally.
