The scenario where a Premier League team needs to lose to have any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.

A rare paradox could emerge in the final round of the Premier League as Brentford have the potential to benefit from a defeat against Liverpool.

Brentford may have to lose to Liverpool to secure a Champions League spot.

With the race for Champions League qualification becoming increasingly complicated due to the allocation of spots from European competitions, the London team could find themselves having to calculate the outcome in unexpected ways.

Under current regulations, the Premier League is awarded five Champions League spots based on good performance in European competitions. However, the situation could change if Aston Villa wins the Europa League. In that case, an additional spot could be moved down to sixth place in the standings, creating a historic opportunity for teams outside the top five.

The key lies in Aston Villa's final ranking. If they win the Europa League and finish the season in 5th place, the Champions League spot will be pushed down to the team in 6th place. This is the path Brentford are aiming for, as they are only 2 points behind with 4 games remaining.

Villa's performance in the Europa League will significantly impact their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Ideally, Brentford would enter the final round already in sixth place. They would then need Liverpool to beat them to ensure the Merseyside team finishes above Aston Villa, indirectly helping Villa finish fifth – a crucial condition for a Champions League spot to be transferred to sixth place.

Of course, this scenario depends on a host of factors, including the Europa League results, the points difference between the teams, and the final standings. But if all conditions are met, Brentford could find themselves in a paradoxical situation where defeat is the shortest path to the Champions League.

If Aston Villa finish 4th in the Premier League and also win the Europa League, there will be no additional Champions League spot for the 6th-placed team. Therefore, the prerequisite for the 6th-placed team to qualify for the Champions League is that Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish the season in 5th place.

Source: https://znews.vn/kich-ban-doi-premier-league-can-thua-de-mong-du-champions-league-post1647963.html