Premier League top four guaranteed place in Champions League group stages from 2018 under new UEFA rules | London Evening Standard

Premier League top four guaranteed place in Champions League group stages from 2018 under new UEFA rulesAll change: The entire top four will automatically secure a place in the group stagesVALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

English clubs will be guaranteed four teams in the Champions League from 2018, UEFA announced this morning.

The top four European leagues – England, Spain, Italy and Germany - will each benefit from the changes.

Under the present system, Spain, Germany and England have three guaranteed group places each, while their fourth-placed teams must contest a play-off over two legs.

Italy currently have only two guaranteed places, plus one in the play-off round.

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Everton were the last English team to fail to qualify for the group stages, in 2004, after finishing the previous season in fourth place.

UEFA General Secretary ad interim Theodore Theodoridis said of the changes: "The amendments made will continue to ensure qualification based on sporting merit, and the right of all associations and their clubs to compete in Europe's elite club competitions.

"We are happy that European football remains united behind the concepts of solidarity, fair competition, fair distribution and good governance."