While Liverpool's Champions League exit this week likely ended the dream of 11 Premier League teams in Europe next season, an unprecedented 10 is still very much on the table. The race for continental football is heating up, with England guaranteed at least eight representatives thanks to a new UEFA rule.

The key is the introduction of the European Performance Spots (EPS), which reward the two best-performing leagues each season with an extra Champions League place. The Premier League has already secured one of these spots for next season, boosting its total allocation. This means fifth place is now a ticket to the Champions League, a huge incentive in the final stretch.

But the plot thickens with cup competitions. England still has four teams alive in Europe, with an all-English Europa League final still possible. If a club outside the top five wins the Europa League or Champions League, they qualify for the Champions League, potentially pushing the total to six English teams in that competition alone. Similarly, the FA Cup winner earns a Europa League spot, which can reshuffle the qualification order based on the final league table.

So, how do we get to ten? The baseline is eight spots from league positions (5th-7th) and the EPS. The ninth and tenth spots would come from English teams winning European trophies. For instance, if West Ham wins the Europa Conference League, they qualify for next season's Europa League, adding an extra English club without taking a domestic spot away.

On the pitch, the battle for fifth is incredibly tight. With six games left, just six points separate Liverpool in fifth from Bournemouth in tenth. Clubs like Chelsea, Brentford, and Brighton are all within striking distance, meaning every match is crucial. The final weeks will be a thrilling sprint for history, with multiple clubs fighting to wear their European kits on the biggest stage next season.