EPL fifth-place UCL qualification rules explained amid Tottenham hope

Tottenham news as Ryan Mason's men look to make a late surge into the Champions League in their final three games of the season

Tottenham Hotspur remain in with a shout of finishing in the Premier League's top four places, but the odds are stacked against them heading into the final three games of the season.

Spurs are currently in seventh position after earning their first win in four games against Crystal Palace at the weekend. Results elsewhere have gone their way recently, with Manchester United and Newcastle losing.

Liverpool's recent upturn in fortunes has seen them more likely to pip Man United to the final Champions League spot, leaving Spurs likely to accept a Europa League return.

However, Manchester City remain the firm favourites to win Europe's prestigious competition after drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. Should Pep Guardiola's men overcome Real and get the better of one of AC Milan or Inter, they will automatically qualify for next season's tournament as winners.

City are also on course to win their fifth Premier League title in six years, meaning they have already secured their spot in the Champions League next season. Unfortunately for Tottenham, this does not mean their original place will be passed down to the team that finishes fifth.

UEFA ruling states that the spare qualification spot will be transferred to the winners of the highest-ranked national league in the UEFA coefficient without an automatic group-stage qualifying spot - which is Ukraine.

That means that current leaders Shakhtar Donetsk would enter the competition in the group stage without having to play qualifying games and the Premier League team that finishes fifth would automatically qualify for the Europa League group stages.