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Everton Europa League Entrance Depends on FA Cup

By Robert Hunter

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: General View of the Everton Club Crest prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on January 5, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: General View of the Everton Club Crest prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on January 5, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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With Southampton and West Brom now incapable of making 7th, Everton are now certain to compete in European Football next season, after the domestic cups will have been won by the teams above us, meaning 7th position will be entered into the Europa League.

Europa League is thought of by many as a burden to a clubs season, due to needing to travel during the middle of the week, to go and play against relatively low quality teams who are fighting for their lives, since victory could have huge financial implications.

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To a Premier League top 10 club, money is currently in abundance in comparison to many of the low quality teams that will be playing in the Europa League, so we will not share that competitive edge they gain from financial motivation.

Everton will more than likely enter the competition in the 3rd qualifying round, which is usually the case for teams that finish 7th. However with league positions still to be fought for, and with the FA cup final still to be played, things could get even better for us. Mathematically we could still finish 5th which would enter us straight into the group stages, although that is highly unlikely. But we are in serious contention to finish 6th with Arsenal currently in bad form, and having the FA cup to compete in.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Goodison Park, home stadium of Everton prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Goodison Park on April 15, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Goodison Park, home stadium of Everton prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Goodison Park on April 15, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

The FA cup final will ultimately decide how we enter Europa League, considering that we finish 6th. Should Arsenal win the FA cup and finish below us then we still only get into the 3rd qualifying round, whereas if they finish above us after we get 6th then we go straight into the group stages. Additionally, if we finish 6th while Chelsea win the FA cup, then we will go straight into the group stages.

Everton are probably going into the qualifying round, but I don’t see this as a burden, since the clubs above us in the league will be difficult to beat next season, so winning the Europa League will be a great chance to earn champions league football. Also, players want to join clubs who have European football, and this will be a great magnet for high quality signings to join next season.

Up the Ev.

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