Which English teams will be contesting what in Europe next season?

West Ham and Liverpool contested an epic cup tie this season and could even meet again at a neutral ground to decide the destiny of next season’s final Europa league place. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

So who’s in the Champions League?

Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have qualified for next season’s group stage. Manchester City will finish fourth and enter the play-off round if they avoid defeat at Swansea or if Manchester United fail to win at home to Bournemouth. United will take that spot if they win and City lose.

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But can’t Liverpool qualify as well?

Yes, if Liverpool beat Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final they will be in the Champions League group stage. The fourth-placed team in the Premier League would not be affected.

How many Europa League places are up for grabs?

England has three places, which usually go to the FA Cup winners, Capital One Cup winners and the fifth-placed team but this season it is more complicated.

Why the complication?

Manchester City’s Capital One Cup win earned a place in the Europa League third qualifying round but their league placing of at least fifth (realistically) will entitle them to a place in the group stage as a minimum, so the League Cup place filters down the table.

Two of Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham United, Southampton and Liverpool will finish fifth and sixth.

What about the FA Cup?

If Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in the final, having finished in the top six, a Europa League place filters down to seventh. If Palace win they are in the Europa League at the group stage.

What other difficulties are there?

If Liverpool finish in a Europa League place and win this season’s competition, they go into the Champions League. In those circumstances their Europa League place will not filter down the table. Instead England will have only two clubs in the Europa League.

Is it true there could be a play-off to settle a Europa League place?

Yes, it’s unlikely but possible that West Ham and Liverpool will face a play-off. They will tie for sixth or seventh place (depending on Southampton’s result) if West Ham lose 1-0 at Stoke and Liverpool win 2-1 at West Brom, or if West Ham lose 2-1 and Liverpool win 3-2 etc. If a Europa League place is at stake, a play-off at a neutral venue will then be required if Liverpool lose to Sevilla.