SPURS will get a Champions League seeding boost if Liverpool oust Chelsea in the top four battle – but only if they then lose to Real Madrid in Kiev.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side sealed their third successive season among the Uefa elite with their 1-0 Wembley win over Newcastle United.
Harry Kane’s winner against Newcastle assured Tottenham of another season in the Champions LeagueREUTERS
It means Tottenham are assured of a place in the Champions League for their first season back at White Hart Lane and their new 62,000-capacity home.
But Spurs’ chances of an easier path when the group phase draw is made in Monaco in August will be increased if Liverpool edge out Chelsea on Sunday but then fail to win their sixth European crown on May 25.
Under Champions League rules, the eight top seeds are the champions of the highest-ranked nations based on recent performances.
The eight are Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, Russia, Portugal and Ukraine, meaning Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus – although they still need one point – Paris St-Germain, Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk would be in the first bracket.
If Liverpool have the edge on Chelsea on Sunday then Spurs could land a more favourable Champions League groupGetty Images - Getty
But Spurs could also so with Liverpool beating Real Madrid in the Champions League finalAP:Associated Press
But as neither Real nor Liverpool will be domestic champions this season, and the title holders are now automatically top seeds, it means Donetsk will be booted down to the second tier.
Seeding berths are calculated by co-efficient scores, points gained over the past five seasons.
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If Liverpool finish in the top four but lose to Madrid, then Spurs would be guaranteed a place in the second seeding block, joining Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Donetsk, Napoli and – assuming they qualify through the knock-out stage in August – Benfica and Basel.
But if Liverpool win in Kiev, claiming a top seed spot, Real would be in the second tier, meaning Spurs would need one of Benfica or Basel to get knocked out to stay in Pot Two.
If Liverpool win in Kiev they will claim a top seed Champions League spotGetty Images - Getty
Tottenham, meanwhile, will see bank £34.2m in prize money if they finish third in the Premier LeagueGetty Images - Getty
And Chelsea would also be ahead of Spurs, knocking them down, if they win at Newcastle and Liverpool slip up at home to Brighton.
As it stands, Liverpool would be in Pot Three if they finish in the top four but lose to Madrid, requiring both Benfica and Basel to be eliminated for them to move up.
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While Spurs have no pressure on them ahead of their final Wembley home game against Leicester, victory could be worth up to £10m.
Finishing third will see Spurs bank £34.2m in prize money, £1.9m more than a fourth place finish.
But it is also understood to mean they will take a higher share of the “market pool” for the four English clubs taking place in the Champions League.
This season the difference between third-placed City and Liverpool in fourth was around £6m up front.
But with next year’s competition taking place under a new TV deal which has seen BT splash out £1.2billion for three years – £100m per season more than their previous agreement – more money is on the table.
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