Champions League prize money increased by a third following the competition’s revamp this season, making it all the more important for the Premier League teams vying to qualify.
England will have six clubs in next year’s competition, having earned an extra spot through their co-efficient score, and with one of Manchester United and Spurs also guaranteed to qualify by winning the Europa League.
It’s good news for clubs given the total prize pot for the Champions League, which this season expanded from 32 to 36 teams, is up to £2.06bn, compared to £1.74bn in the previous format last season.
Every club that qualifies earns an automatic £15.7m – even if they lose every game and go out at the league phase.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp and Daniel Sturridge discuss the race for Champions League football in the Premier League and who is best placed to make the top five
At that stage, every win earns a club £1.8m and a draw £590,000.
For finishing in the top eight of the league phase, which seals automatic qualification to the round of 16, UEFA awards £1.7m to each team.
Teams are also awarded £233,000 for each place in the league phase table, meaning Liverpool got £8.4m for finishing top, while Arsenal earned £7.9m for finishing third.
UEFA then rewards teams for reaching each round of the knockout phase:
Winner: £21.5mRunner-up: £15.9mSemi-finals: £12.9mQuarter-finals: £10.7mRound-of-16: £9.4m
Arsenal are therefore the biggest earners among the English clubs this season.
Their run to the last four, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain, earned them roughly £70m in prize money, and that is before factoring gate receipts and commercial revenues.
The winner of the final between Paris-Saint Germain will earn close to £100m in prize money.
For comparison, Manchester United received just £3.9m in prize money for winning the FA Cup last summer
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Football Show takes a closer look at the race for the top five places in the Premier League. Which teams have the kinder run-ins?
UEFA has also introduced a new “value pillar” of payments for the first time this season – which could be worth an additional £10.5m to clubs.
This is a complicated bonus based on your club’s historical success in Europe and how much your country pays for its broadcast rights to the Champions League.
And it’s six! Which PL clubs are in the race for CL qualification?
As we approach the end of the Premier League season, just seven points separate six teams fighting for the remaining places below champions Liverpool, whose place is already assured.
Crucially, England’s co-efficient score means the Premier League has five spots this season, rather than the usual four.
Arsenal could clinch their place with victory over Liverpool on Super Sunday, with Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea currently occupying the other spots, and Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa sixth and seventh respectively.
Five spots will become six now that both Tottenham and Manchester United have reached the Europa League final.
Both sides are in the bottom half in the Premier League and not in the conversation for a top-five finish, but the Europa League winners earn qualification to the Champions League.
An English Europa League winner does not mean the fifth-placed Premier League team lose their Champions League place.
Watch the top-five race on Sky Sports this weekend
It’s another huge weekend on Sky Sports for the club’s vying for top-five finishes.
On Saturday Night Football, Aston Villa go to Bournemouth needing a win to keep their challenge alive, with coverage starting at 5pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event and kick-off at 5.30pm.
On Super Sunday, you can watch Nottingham Forest try to boost their hopes by beating Leicester in the earlier kick off on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event at 2.15pm.
After that, it’s Arsenal’s turn. The Gunners still have work to do to secure their Champions League spot, starting against Liverpool at Anfield, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event and kicking off at 4.30pm.
