The race for European football in the 2025/26 Premier League is shaping up to be an unpredictable one in the second half of the season, with a multitude of teams vying to fill the spots that qualify them for various European competitions. But who is involved in the race for European football, and what are their chances of qualification?
The Race for European Football: The Candidates
At this stage of the 2025/26 Premier League season, this level of congestion in the table and the sheer number of candidates in the race for European football is rare.
Chelsea currently sit in fifth place, only four points ahead of Crystal Palace in 14th. With just four points separating those two teams, it can be inferred that the eight teams between them are also candidates in the race for European football, in addition to Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Although this is likely to change closer to the end of the season, the presence of both positive and negative spells for many clubs indicates that the middle of the Premier League table is something of a level playing field this season.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are firmly in the race for European football and are highly likely to retain those positions by the end of the season. However, both teams face uncertainty due to recent or impending managerial changes.
The likes of Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur also possess some credentials in the race for European football. However, some may argue that their chances of qualification are less convincing in comparison to other mid-table teams, due to factors such as limited squad depth for Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace and a lack of home victories for Tottenham.
In the race for European football, teams including Fulham, Sunderland, and Brentford may be considered outside contenders for those spots. Nevertheless, each of these teams is currently feeling positive, owing to unbeaten runs and the ability to continue picking up results despite missing key players due to AFCON.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The 2025/26 Bundesliga Midseason Review
The Race for European Football: Does This Place Importance on January Transfer Window Activity?
With such intense competition in the race for European football, teams may be looking to strengthen their squads in the January transfer window in order to gain an edge over their competitors in the second half of the season.
However, the January transfer window has consistently proven to be a difficult period for clubs to conduct business, largely due to a reluctance to sell key players mid-season, which often leads to inflated asking prices.
This challenge may, however, benefit clubs such as Brighton, Fulham, and Crystal Palace, who frequently acquire players from top sides who are not considered key figures, using them to bolster their squads.
This is exemplified by Crystal Palace’s signing of Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson for around £35 million, with the forward being thrust straight into the starting lineup when the Eagles faced Newcastle this weekend.
Johnson scored the winning goal for Tottenham in last season’s Europa League final and was the club’s top scorer last season. However, he has since found himself surplus to requirements and moved on, suggesting he could become a valuable asset for Crystal Palace in their pursuit of European football.
If the likes of Brighton, Brentford, and Fulham can replicate similar signings, this could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification.
The Premier League table at this stage of the season is unusual, with such a small gap between fifth and 14th place. While this may change by the end of the campaign, it highlights how the decisions teams make now could be crucial in increasing the gap between themselves and their rivals, and therefore strengthening their credentials in the race for European football.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 26.12.2025
