BBC SPORT - Uefa clarifies warning to Everton

BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Uefa clarifies warning to Everton: "Uefa has told Everton again they could miss out on a Champions League spot if Liverpool win this season's trophy.

Winning this season's competition would not automatically qualify the Reds for next term, if they finish outside the Premiership's top four.

Instead the Football Association could nominate them - and that would leave the fourth-placed side in the Uefa Cup.

It was reported on Friday that England could have five Champions League places, but Uefa has now denied this.

A Uefa spokesman told BBC Sport: 'One country cannot have more than four places - it would be up to the FA to make the request for Liverpool.'

Uefa's website includes the Champions League regulations, and rule 1.3 states: 'At the request of the national association concerned, the Uefa Champions League title-holders may be entered for this competition ... if they have not qualified via the top domestic league championship.

'If, in such a case, the title-holders come from an association entitled to enter four teams for the Uefa Champions League, the fourth-placed club in the top domestic league championship has to be entered for the Uefa Cup.'

That would mean heartache for Everton, who are currently in fourth place, eight points ahead of their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

The Reds eased into the quarter-finals on Wednesday and manager Rafael Benitez believes his side could go all the way.

The quarter-final draw for the Champions League will take place on Friday 18 March.

Any team can be drawn against another and the two legs will be played on 5/6 and 12/13 April. "