Ups, downs and the race for Europe

Leeds' Wilfried Gnonto celebrates as Southampton's Armel Bella-Kotchap looks dejectedImage source, PA Media/Reuters
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BBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues - and the race for European qualification - in England and Scotland for 2024-25.

Recent confirmed promotions, relegations, titles & qualifications

Premier League

Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with Liverpool fans after winning the titleImage source, Reuters
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Liverpool made certain of the title with four games to spare

Liverpool clinched the Premier League title on 27 April with a 5-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield.

The top five teams are guaranteed qualification for the league phase of the Champions League - with Arsenal's win over Real Madrid on 8 April making certain that England will be one of the two associations with the highest Uefa coefficients for 2024-25, and clinching a fifth place in addition to the usual four.

The winner of the Europa League - Manchester United or Tottenham - will qualify for the league phase of the Champions League as an additional (sixth) English team, regardless of their Premier League finishing position.

The sixth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League, along with the FA Cup winners. If the FA Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League, that Europa place reverts to the league.

Newcastle United's victory in the Carabao Cup final means that at worst they will qualify for the Conference League play-off round. But if they qualify for Europe by their league position, that Conference League spot will revert to the league.

If Chelsea win the Conference League but fail to reach the Champions League, they will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League.

The bottom three teams are relegated to the Championship. Southampton became the earliest team to be relegated (in terms of games) in Premier League history when they lost 3-1 at Tottenham on 6 April. They were joined by Leicester City on 20 April after their 1-0 defeat by Liverpool, and Ipswich Town on 26 April after a 3-0 loss at Newcastle.

Women's Super League

Chelsea celebrate after winning the Women's Super LeagueImage source, PA Media
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Chelsea's WSL triumph was secured with two games to spare

Chelsea clinched their sixth successive WSL title by beating Manchester United 1-0 on 30 April.

They will enter the league phase of the Champions League, runners-up Arsenal entering at the second round and third-placed Manchester United in the first round.

Bottom side Crystal Palace will be relegated to the Women's Championship, which was confirmed on 27 April when they lost 7-1 to West Ham. They will be replaced by Championship winners London City Lionesses.

Championship

Leeds United players celebrate after clinching the Championship titleImage source, PA Media
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Leeds needed a stoppage-time goal on the final day of the season to pip Burnley to the title on goal difference

Leeds United and Burnley both clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League on 21 April when the Clarets beat Sheffield United 2-1. Leeds secured the title on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win at Plymouth.

In the play-off final for the third promotion place, Sheffield United will face Sunderland on 24 May.

The bottom three teams are relegated to League One. Cardiff City's relegation was confirmed on 26 April by a goalless draw with West Brom, while on the final day of the season Plymouth Argyle joined them after losing 2-1 to Leeds, as did Luton Town after losing 5-3 at West Brom.

League One

Birmingham City celebrate promotion after winning at PeterboroughImage source, PA Media
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Birmingham clinched promotion with six games to spare, and were confirmed as champions before they played again

Birmingham City became the first team in England's top five divisions to be promoted when they won 2-1 at Peterborough on 8 April, and clinched the title without kicking a ball four days later as Wrexham drew 0-0 at Wigan. Wrexham made sure of the second automatic promotion place on 26 April when they beat Charlton 3-0.

In the play-off final for the third promotion place, Leyton Orient face Charlton Athletic or Wycombe Wanderers on 25 May.

The bottom four teams are relegated to League Two. Shrewsbury Town's relegation was confirmed on 18 April because of Burton's 0-0 draw at Exeter, Cambridge United joined them on 26 April after losing 2-1 at Burton, while Burton then sent both Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town down by drawing 1-1 with Wigan on 29 April.

League Two

Doncaster celebrate with the League Two trophyImage source, PA Media
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Robert Street's first-half double helped Doncaster clinch the title by winning on the final day of the season

Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale were automatically promoted to League One on 26 April, as Rovers beat Bradford 2-1 and Vale won 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon. Doncaster secured the title with a 2-0 win at Notts County on the final day of the season, when Bradford City claimed the final automatic promotion place by beating Fleetwood 1-0.

In the play-off semi-finals, Walsall face Chesterfield, while AFC Wimbledon meet Notts County.

The bottom two teams are relegated to the National League. Morecambe's relegation was confirmed on 21 April as they lost 3-1 to Salford, while Carlisle United's stay in the EFL was ended on 26 April as they lost 3-2 at Cheltenham.

National League

Barnet clinched the title and the sole automatic promotion place with a game to spare on 26 April as they beat Aldershot 4-0.

York City, Forest Green Rovers, Rochdale, Oldham, Halifax and Southend entered the play-offs for the second promotion spot.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to National League North or South, and will be replaced with the champions and play-off winners of those two divisions.

Ebbsfleet United became the first team in England's top five tiers to be relegated after drawing 3-3 with Aldershot on 22 March, and AFC Fylde joined them on 18 April after losing 1-0 to Halifax. The final two relegation places were filled on the final day of the season by Maidenhead United, despite their 3-0 win over Boston, and Dagenham & Redbridge, who drew 1-1 at Solihull Moors.

Brackley Town secured the National League North title and Truro City won the National League South title on 26 April.

Scottish Premiership

Media caption,

Watch the celebrations as Celtic clinch fourth title in row

Celtic clinched the Premiership title on 26 April with a 5-0 win against Dundee United. They will enter the Champions League play-off round, with runners-up Rangers entering in the second qualifying round.

If Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup, regardless of their league position, they will enter the Europa League at the play-off round. Third-placed Hibernian will enter at the second qualifying round, and the next highest-finishing team will enter the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

If Celtic win the Cup, "their" Europa play-off round place reverts to the league and will go to Hibs, with the fourth-placed team entering at the second qualifying round and the fifth-placed team entering the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

Bottom club St Johnstone were relegated to the Scottish Championship after losing 2-1 at Hearts on 14 May, while the 11th-placed team - Ross County or Dundee - will enter a play-off with three Championship sides.

Scottish Championship

Falkirk celebrate with the Championship trophyImage source, PA Media
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Falkirk had to wait until the final day of the season to pip Livingston to the title

Champions Falkirk are promoted to the Scottish Premiership, having secured the title on 2 May with a final-day 3-1 win over Hamilton.

In the semi-finals of the play-offs (which are all played over two legs), Partick Thistle are taking on Livingston, with the victors taking on the 11th-placed Premiership team. Livingston beat Thistle 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-final tie.

Bottom club Hamilton Academical were deducted 15 points on 17 April for a breach of SPFL rules, and their relegation to Scottish League One was confirmed two days later after a 0-0 draw with Queen's Park. The Accies lost a subsequent appeal against the deduction.

Ninth-placed Airdrieonians are contesting a relegation play-off against League One side Cove Rangers and lead 2-1 from the first leg.

Scottish League One

Andy Winter celebrates scoring for Arbroath against StranraerImage source, SNS
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Arbroath clinched promotion with three games to spare

Arbroath were promoted to the Scottish Championship after beating Stranraer 4-0 on 12 April to clinch the title.

In the play-off final, Cove Rangers face ninth-placed Championship side Airdrieonians over two legs on 14 and 17 May.

Bottom club Dumbarton are relegated to Scottish League Two. They became the first SPFL team to be relegated after drawing 0-0 with Queen of the South on 22 March.

Ninth-placed Annan Athletic are contesting a relegation play-off against League Two side East Fife, with the first leg proving to be a dramatic affair.

Scottish League Two

Peterhead celebrate with the League Two trophyImage source, SNS
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Peterhead clinched promotion with a game to spare

Peterhead clinched the title and automatic promotion to Scottish League One by beating East Fife 1-0 on 26 April.

In the play-off final, East Fife face ninth-placed League One side Annan over two legs on 13 and 16 May.

Bottom side Bonnyrigg Rose were handed a two-legged play-off (on 10 and 17 May) against Lowland League winners East Kilbride for the final place in League Two for 2025-26, after Kilbride beat Highland League champions Brora Rangers in their play-off.