Will we qualify for the CL?

[Dave]

Can someone who understands this stuff better than I do (which is pretty much everyone), explain the impact on our chances of getting a 5th place CL qualifier if ALL the Premier League teams go out of Europe at this stage?

5th place has looked like an almost certainty for a long time, but I doubt anyone expected every English team to go out this round, which now looks like a possibility.

If they all did go out, is there still a chance we lose the 5th team in the Champions League?

I think that if all nine English teams go out of Europe at this stage, and every German / Spanish team goes as far as they can  then it's just about mathematically possible.

But if Arsenal go through as expected, it's done. If Palace go through, it's done. If I dunno, Roma or Lyon, or Porto, or PSG or Fiorentina or Strasbourg beat a German / Spanish team then it's done.

In short, it's absolutely fine to enjoy Chelsea / Man City / Spurs getting pummelled.

Thank you.  That is precisely what I wanted to know, can I sit at home and enjoy watching those three get hammered, without worrying about the consequences for us - thank you!!

They English Champions League teams have followed the script perfectly - swatting aside everyone in the group sides with no fuss to make fifth place nailed on nice and early, only to them collapse like a massive pile of Hotspurs as soon as they've done what they needed to do. Couldn't have asked them to do more.

Now we just need to do our bit.

[AV82EC]

The only issue I’ve got is if they all go out then they can focus on the League. Swings and roundabouts.

[Dave]

Yeah, but you can't have everything. And unless it has a direct impact on us, then Villa's rivals losing games is going to be better than Villa's rivals winning games.

[eamonn]

I think Yanited, Liverpool & Chelsea still need to play each other too so points will be dropped one way or the other in those 3 games.

[TheToffnar]

With the way the league's been this year the top 6 sides are just as likely to drop points against any side bar Spurs. Doesn't matter if we can't win our games though.

[PaulWinch again]

Yes, ultimately we need to starting winning games again.

[paul_e]

and now Betis and Stuttgart have both lost and we won, which pushes us even closer to this being a sure thing.

[PeterWithesShin]

England still on course for fifth Champions League spot

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj0npqv9rylo

[ADVILLAFAN]

Can someone who understands this stuff better than I do (which is pretty much everyone), explain the impact on our chances of getting a 5th place CL qualifier if ALL the Premier League teams go out of Europe at this stage?

5th place has looked like an almost certainty for a long time, but I doubt anyone expected every English team to go out this round, which now looks like a possibility.

If they all did go out, is there still a chance we lose the 5th team in the Champions League?

Even if all English teams go out at this stage, chasing countries (believe Spain and Germany the closest) would have to win practically all their remaining matches and some of them will likely face each other.

So England will get 5 spots this year.

[Demitri_C]

I think Yanited, Liverpool & Chelsea still need to play each other too so points will be dropped one way or the other in those 3 games.

Good point.  Once we play manure  we only have city and liverpool and those are our last two games

[TheToffnar]

Thought it was a classic Emery performance. Sharp in defense, pretty clean midfield game and tactically astute overall. Forward players let us down a bit, but it was a real comfort to see that level of composure from the team in general given how pathetic some of our efforts have been the last few weeks.

I'd have been relatively happy with a 0-0, so pretty ecstatic with a win.

[eamonn]

I think Yanited, Liverpool & Chelsea still need to play each other too so points will be dropped one way or the other in those 3 games.

Good point.  Once we play manure  we only have city and liverpool and those are our last two games

As Smithy said, being 7 points ahead of Liverpool before we play them is the ideal scenario!