Premier League, WSL, EFL, Scottish football: Ups, downs & European qualification (2025)

Published

6 April 2025

27 April - Liverpool clinch Premier League title

27 April - Crystal Palace relegated to Women's Championship

26 April - Ipswich relegated to Championship

26 April - Cardiff relegated to League One

26 April - Wrexham promoted to Championship

26 April - Cambridge relegated to League Two

26 April - Doncaster and Port Vale promoted to League One

26 April - Carlisle relegated to National League

26 April - Barnet promoted to League Two

26 April - Celtic clinch Scottish Premiership title

26 April - Peterhead promoted to Scottish League One

Liverpool clinched the Premier League title on 27 April with a 5-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield.

The top five teams are guaranteed qualification for the league phase of the Champions League - with Arsenal's win over Real Madrid on 8 April making certain that England will be one of the two associations with the highest Uefa coefficients for 2024-25, and clinching a fifth place in addition to the usual four.

There are also places in the league phase reserved for the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League, regardless of their domestic league positions.

The sixth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League, along with the FA Cup winners. If the FA Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League, that Europa place reverts to the league.

Newcastle United's victory in the Carabao Cup final means that at worst they will qualify for the Conference League play-off round. But if they qualify for Europe by their league position, that Conference League spot will revert to the league.

If Chelsea win the Conference League but fail to reach the Champions League, they will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League.

The bottom three teams are relegated to the Championship. Southampton became the earliest team to be relegated (in terms of games) in Premier League history when they lost 3-1 at Tottenham on 6 April. They were joined by Leicester City on 20 April after their 1-0 defeat by Liverpool, and Ipswich Town on 26 April after a 3-0 loss at Newcastle.

The WSL champions will enter the league phase of the Champions League, with the runners-up entering at the second round and the third-placed side in the first round.

Leaders Chelsea are already assured of their Champions League place, with Arsenal and Manchester United close to joining them.

Bottom side Crystal Palace will be relegated to the Women's Championship, which was confirmed on 27 April when they lost 7-1 to West Ham.

Leeds United and Burnley both clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League on 21 April when the Clarets beat Sheffield United 2-1. The teams are level on points with two games to go, so the title cannot be decided until the final day of the season.

Sheffield United, Sunderland and two other teams will contest the play-offs for the third promotion place.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to League One. Cardiff City's relegation was confirmed on 26 April by a goalless draw with West Brom, while Plymouth look all but certain to join them because of their goal difference.

Birmingham City became the first team in England's top five divisions to be promoted when they won 2-1 at Peterborough on 8 April, and clinched the title without kicking a ball four days later as Wrexham drew 0-0 at Wigan. Wrexham made sure of the second automatic promotion place on 26 April when they beat Charlton 3-0.

Stockport, Wycombe and Charlton will contest the play-offs with either Leyton Orient or Reading, with the O's superior goal difference meaning they just need to match Reading's result on the final day.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to League Two. Shrewsbury Town's relegation was confirmed on 18 April because of Burton's 0-0 draw at Exeter, Cambridge United joined them on 26 April after losing 2-1 at Burton, while Burton will send both Bristol Rovers and Crawley down if they avoid defeat in their game in hand on Tuesday.

Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale were automatically promoted to League One on 26 April, as Rovers beat Bradford 2-1 and Vale won 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon. Doncaster hold a one-point lead going into the final game of the season as both clubs chase the title.

There is one more automatic promotion place, with the next four teams entering a play-off. Bradford, Walsall and Notts County are assured of at least a play-off place.

The bottom two teams are relegated to the National League. Morecambe's relegation was confirmed on 21 April as they lost 3-1 to Salford, while Carlisle United's stay in the EFL was ended on 26 April as they lost 3-2 at Cheltenham.

Barnet clinched the title and the sole automatic promotion place with a game to spare on 26 April as they beat Aldershot 4-0.

York, Forest Green Rovers, Rochdale, Oldham, Halifax and one other team will contest the play-offs for the second promotion spot.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to National League North or South, and will be replaced with the champions and play-off winners of those two divisions.

Ebbsfleet United became the first team in England's top five tiers to be relegated after drawing 3-3 with Aldershot on 22 March, and AFC Fylde joined them on 18 April after losing 1-0 to Halifax. The final two relegation places are between Maidenhead, Wealdstone, Dagenham & Redbridge and Braintree.

Brackley Town secured the National League North title and Truro City won the National League South title on 26 April.

Celtic clinched the Premiership title on 26 April with a 5-0 win against Dundee United. They will enter the Champions League play-off round, with runners-up Rangers entering in the second qualifying round.

The Premiership has now split in half after 33 games - with each club playing the others in their 'half' for a fourth and final time.

The third-placed Premiership team will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the fourth-placed team entering the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

If Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup, regardless of their league position, they will enter the Europa League at the play-off round. If Celtic win the Cup, "their" Europa place reverts to the league and will go to the third-placed Premiership team, with the fourth-placed team entering at the second qualifying round and the fifth-placed team entering the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

The Premiership's bottom club will be relegated to the Scottish Championship, while the 11th-placed team will enter a play-off with three Championship sides.

The champions - Falkirk or Livingston - will be promoted to the Scottish Premiership. The title will be decided on the final day of the season, with Falkirk currently ahead on goal difference.

Whoever does not win the division will enter a play-off with Ayr United, either Partick Thistle or Raith Rovers, and the 11th-placed Premiership team.

Bottom club Hamilton Academical were deducted 15 points on 17 April for a breach of SPFL rules, and their relegation was confirmed two days later after a 0-0 draw with Queen's Park, though the Accies could yet appeal against the deduction.

Ninth-placed Airdrieonians face a relegation play-off with three League One sides.

Arbroath were promoted to the Scottish Championship after beating Stranraer 4-0 on 12 April to clinch the title.

Cove Rangers, Queen of the South and either Alloa or Stenhousemuir will enter a play-off with ninth-placed Championship side Airdrieonians.

Bottom club Dumbarton are relegated to Scottish League Two. They became the first SPFL team to be relegated after drawing 0-0 with Queen of the South on 22 March.

Ninth-placed Annan Athletic will enter a play-off with three League Two teams.

Peterhead clinched the title and automatic promotion to Scottish League One by beating East Fife 1-0 on 26 April.

East Fife, Edinburgh City and Elgin City will enter a play-off with ninth-placed League One side Annan.

Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League winners East Kilbride are contesting a two-legged play-off on 26 April and 3 May, with the winners facing the 10th-placed League Two team (on 10 and 17 May) for the final place in League Two for 2025-26.

The 10th-placed team will be either Bonnyrigg Rose or Forfar. Bonnyrigg's goal difference means that realistically, they will finish bottom unless they win their last game and Forfar lose.

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