Bournemouth in Europe for first time - but Champions League still on

Breaking news from the world of sport: Bournemouth in Europe for first time - but Champions League still onImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Junior Kroupi's goal for Bournemouth against Manchester City secured the Cherries' place in EuropeByDale Johnson Football issues correspondentPublished8 minutes agoBournemouth might have been denied victory at home to Manchester City because of Erling Haaland's late equaliser, but the Cherries still had plenty to cheer. Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Vitality Stadium confirmed that Bournemouth will be playing European football next season for the first time. That will at least be in the Europa League, but they still have two possible routes to the Champions League.

The first will be opened up should Aston Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. Then, if the Villans finish fifth in the Premier League, Unai Emery's side will qualify for the Champions League as the Europa League winners. The extra place in the Champions League that the Premier League earned through the European Performance spot would go to the team finishing sixth.

Match Details

To finish fifth, Villa would need to lose at Manchester City, and Liverpool win at home to Brentford. If Bournemouth avoid defeat at Nottingham Forest, or Brighton fail to win at home to Manchester United, the Cherries would finish sixth and play among Europe's elite next season. There are a couple of other routes, too.

If Liverpool lose, then Bournemouth could overtake them on goal difference. That would probably require a swing of at least seven goals - so Liverpool to lose 3-0 and Bournemouth to win 4-0. But how about an end-of-season play-off to decide the final place in the Champions League?

That could happen if Liverpool lost 1-0 to the Bees, and Bournemouth won 5-0 at Forest. Goals scored and goals conceded would be identical, head-to-head points would both be three, while they each scored twice away from home against each other. Boats, fire and a TikTok song - inside Arsenal's title win Published2 hours agoThe key moments that decided the Premier League title race Published1 hour agoStill plenty riding on final dayThe Premier League title is now Arsenal's for the first time in 22 years, but six of the 10 games on the final day will still have something riding on them.

Reactions and Expectations

As well as the Champions League, slots in the Europa League, Conference League and relegation are to be decided. For the final relegation place, West Ham need a victory at home to Leeds United to give themselves a chance. Then it is down to Tottenham, who would need to cast aside their home hoodoo to stay in the Premier League.

No team has won fewer points at home than Spurs this season, with Burnley also on 12 points and two wins. And Roberto de Zerbi's side will host Everton, with only two teams winning more than the Toffees' 26 points on the road this season. Everton, though, now have nothing to play for.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.