Premier League to Challenge Planned Changes to Champions League Qualification

Premier League representatives will oppose plans to reduce the number of automatic qualification places for the Champions League, at a meeting of 150 top European clubs this week.

Current rules mean the team finishing fourth in the English top flight - as well as La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga - enter the group stages of the competition without having to navigate the playoffs. However, that is under threat after discussions between the president of the European Leagues, Lars-Christer Olsson, and other organisation officials over reverting back to the previous system.

The 2017/18 campaign was the first in which sides placing fourth in the aforementioned leagues immediately qualified for…