David Moyes owes Newcastle a big thank you as Everton aim for the season still on
Everton are looking to play European football for the first time since 2017.
Despite recent inconsistencies, the Toffees sit ninth in the Premier League, a point behind Bournemouth in eighth, and three behind seventh-placed Brentford.
As was the case last term, five English teams are set to take part in the Champions League next season, meaning that the European places will extend down to eighth, due to UEFA’s association rankings.
David Moyes’ side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Manchester United on Monday, with Benjamin Sesko netting a late winner at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees travel to Newcastle on Saturday as they look to get back to winning ways, and it turns out that Moyes owes Everton‘s next opponents a big thank you for their recent European exploits.
- Read more: Everton’s job in European race six-pointer vs Newcastle has been made significantly easier
Newcastle’s European progress aids the Premier League – What does it mean for Everton?
Eddie Howe’s side were the one Premier League side not to advance to the Champions League round of 16 automatically.
Facing Qarabag over a two-legged play-off, Newcastle stormed to a 9-3 aggregate victory against the Azerbaijani side to set up a round of 16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea – depending on the outcome of Friday’s draw.
With all nine Premier League sides currently set to advance to the next stage of their respective European competitions, England sit at the top of the UEFA association rankings, meaning that five teams will play in Europe next term, if things stay as expected.
Spain received the second bunch of eight slots this season, with England having one more due to Tottenham’s Europa League triumph.
As of now, Germany is set to finish second in the rankings behind England, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Champions League exit being the only example of a Bundesliga side failing in Europe this term.
Newcastle have done their job and kept all remaining English sides in continental competition this term, meaning that eighth place will likely come with the reward of a UEFA Conference League spot come May – something Everton fans would gladly take.
Everton will be keeping their eye on Champions League pathways
With the draw set to take place on Friday, Newcastle will find out whether it is Barcelona or Chelsea they face in the round of 16.
If it were to be Chelsea, this would guarantee a Champions League exit for one Premier League side, damaging the rankings slightly.
However, one team in particular will even this out immediately.
Ahead of Friday’s draw, German champions Bayern Munich will find out their opposition – either Bayer Leverkusen or Borussia Dortmund, pending the latter’s result against Atalanta on Wednesday.
Last season’s round of 16 clash between Bayern and Leverkusen happened to have a big impact on Germany’s ranking, with Leverkusen joining Stuttgart and Leipzig as they exited the competition, while Dortmund soon followed.
Leading 2-0 on aggregate Die Schwarzgelben are favourites as they travel to Bergamo, but what this does is guarantee a German exit in the next round, with Niko Kovac’s side facing either Bayern Munich or Arsenal, while Bayern’s alternative is Leverkusen.
As of now, the Premier League is all but guaranteed the additional European spots, and all of the sides in and around Everton in the league will be eyeing this up as a huge opportunity given just how tight the standings are.
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