Crystal Palace will play Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on 27 May.
The Conference League winners qualify for the following season’s Europa League.
And Palace – England’s representatives – have only a small chance of qualifying for Europe domestically.
So, if the Eagles win the Conference League, it is likely they would take up an extra place in the Europa League as a titleholder.
That would mean the Premier League has nine clubs in Europe.
Palace are eight points behind Brentford, with a game in hand, in the first vacant position (pre-EPS).
If the Eagles were to soar up to seventh place, this would open the door for eighth to get the place in the Conference League next season.
Why would this be? Well, remember that the EPS is applied last of all.
By finishing seventh, Palace would be in the first position which does not earn European football by league position. They would enter the Europa League as a ninth English team.
When the EPS is applied and bumps the league placings down, the Conference League spot jumps over Palace and goes to eighth.
What about if Manchester City win the FA Cup, or Chelsea do and finish inside the top six? The places drop down one. If Palace were to finish eighth then the same scenario applies, and the Conference League place goes to ninth.
