Five Premier League teams avoided UCL play-offs

Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City And Tottenham Hotspur join Armory in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Wednesday.

The four clubs all tasted victory in their final matches of the league phase, securing a place in the last eight. Arsenal, who beat Kairat Almaty, are home and sprayed.

That means automatic qualification to the knockout rounds for the five teams mentioned above.

But for Newcastle Unitedthey have to go through the play-offs.

The Magpies earned a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes but it was not enough for a top-eight finish, with Eddie Howe’s side instead finishing 12th.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF FPL?

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From a Fantasy perspective, that means Newcastle have two additional games to play either side of Matchday 27.

Expect a lot of rotation from Howe in the next few weeks, especially with the EFL Cup semi-final second leg and FA Cup fourth round tie.

The Magpies will be the only Premier League team playing twice a week, every week, until Matchday 29 (and possibly beyond).

As for Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City And Famegreat news. They have no European involvement either side of Gameweek 27, certainly reduces the risk of domestic rotation.

For City, this is a double whammy. Not only have they had two midweek breaks in February, but their opponents in Gameweek 27 will be Newcastle – who will be in the play-offs either side of that fixture.

Chelsea are coming off a poor home game against Burnley in matchday 27, so what could be a team minefield (should the Blues be in the play-offs) is unlikely to matter much.

It’s worth mentioning that Matchweek 26 or 27 could very well be a Double Matchweek for Arsenal (and Wolves) or Chelsea (and Everton). Whoever wins the Arsenal v Chelsea EFL Cup semi-final – the Gunners are big favorites given their lead in the first leg – their Gameweek 31 match will be postponed. The match could then be moved to the midweek following Matchweek 26/27.

Newcastle (and Sunderland) and Man City (and Palace) cannot double up in Matchweek 26/27, whatever happens in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

There will be more reaction from Wednesday’s game in our Scout Notes.