Newcastle United: Which league position achieves European football?
Newcastle United remain 6th in the Premier League table after Manchester United lost 4-0 to Crystal Palace last night.
The Magpies are achieved 56 points this season and have won 5 of their last 7 matches.
As it stands they would play in the Europa Conference league next season but there a multiple scenarios in which this could change.
Possible scenarios:
Newcastle finish 5th: Europa League
Whilst unlikely, a 5th place finish would see them fall one place shy of last year’s top 4 finish and would mean a place in the Europa League. They’re 4 points behind Tottenham Hotspur in 5th place and would have to better their points total by that deficit in their last 3 games of the Premier League season, in order to finish in 5th place.
Newcastle finish 6th and Manchester City win the FA Cup: Europa League
This is where it gets complicated. A 6th placed finish in the Premier League would mean a place in the Europa Conference League but the winner of the FA Cup also wins a place in the Europa League, as well as the trophy. If Manchester City win the FA Cup their place in the Europa League will fall to 6th place in the Premier League, as they have guaranteed Champions League football next season by finishing in the top 4.
Newcastle finish 6th and Manchester United win the FA Cup: Europa Conference League
If Newcastle United finished 6th in the Premier League they will play European football next season regardless of what happens with other teams. Like mentioned, 6th place would mean a place in the Europa Conference League unless Manchester City win the FA Cup.
Newcastle finish 7th and Manchester United finish within the top 6: Europa Conference League
Ordinarily, a 7th placed finish would mean no European football. However, in this scenario both teams in the FA Cup have already achieved European football through their league position. This means that the place in the Europa League for the winners of the FA Cup would fall to 6th in the Premier League. Therefore the Europa Conference League place goes to the 7th placed team in the league.
Newcastle finish 7th and Manchester City win the FA Cup: Europa Conference League
This guarantees European football next season because Manchester City already have Champion League football and the qualifying position for the other competitions will drop a place for the aforementioned reasons.
Newcastle finish 7th and Manchester United win the FA Cup but finish 8th or lower in the league: No European football
Newcastle won’t achieve European football if Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish outside the top 7 in the league. This is because they will take their spot in the Europa League by way of their FA Cup victory and the Europa Conference League spot will go to 6th as normal. There will be no drop down.
Newcastle Finish 8th or lower: No European football
An 8th placed finish (or lower) would mean no European football next season for Newcastle United regardless of events elsewhere.
