Let's start with the basics: In the simplest scenario, who qualifies for next season's Champions League?

Based on a complex formula that we need not go into, Uefa coefficients decide how many Champions League spots are available to each country in Europe.

Currently only Spain, Germany and England receive four automatic places, while Italy, Portugal and France are awarded three. There are nine nations with two spots and the rest of the European nations scrap it out for the remainder.

All of which means that the top four teams in the Premier League are ordinarily awarded a place in the following season's Champions League...