If Liverpool win the Champions League will fifth-placed Chelsea qualify?

After a pulsating final day of Premier League action that saw a tidal wave of goals across the 10 games, Liverpool sealed fourth spot with a comprehensive win over Brighton.

There had been a slim chance that Chelsea could leapfrog the Merseysiders if they won, Liverpool lost and there was a huge swing in goal difference – but Antonio Conte’s side suffered a humiliating loss at Newcastle.

Even if Liverpool had missed out on the top four, winning their upcoming Champions League final against Real Madrid would have secured their place in the competition regardless – so is it a similar case for Chelsea?

Will fifth place qualify if Liverpool win the Champions League?

The short answer is: no. The only circumstances in which a country can have more than four participants in the Champions League is if a team wins the Champions League or Europa League while finishing outside the automatic qualification spots.

This has happened before, both when Manchester United won the Europa League last season while only finishing sixth, and when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2011/12.

But, sadly for Chelsea, their failure to make the final of either European cup, coupled with their fifth-place finish, means they will definitely be playing in the Europa League next season even if Liverpool beat Real Madrid.

The Champions League final will, however, determine which pot the Reds end up in for the group stage draw: win in Kiev and they will be seeded in pot 1, lose and they will be in pot 3.