LONDON COULD LOSE PLACE AT TOP EURO TABLE

NO Champions League football in London? That hasn’t happened this century but the prospect is looming large for next season.

Harry Kane (below, top) is injured so that’s Tottenham playing with nine men for the next few weeks, Arsenal are playing catch-up and Chelsea’s short-term future is unpredictable under new management.

Given the talent in Chelsea’s squad, they could yet make it if Thomas Tuchel (middle) quickly locates the right buttons to press but, like the other London clubs, the 2012 European champions have an uphill task.

The capital’s top team at present are West Ham United. Hats off to the resilient David Moyes (bottom), whose unsung team are undefeated in January. Liverpool will know they have been in a game against them today.

But with the best will in the world, the happy Hammers aren’t going to finish in a Champions League qualification spot. The last time there was no London team in the Champions League was in 1997-8 – back when only two English clubs were involved.

Arsenal did appear, briefly, in the UEFA Cup that season but the main stage was left to Manchester United and Newcastle.

Since then the scope and the importance of the Champions League has mushroomed, not just in football terms but financially. Champions League qualification is worth at least £50million per club in prize money and broadcasting revenue. With vaccinated fans hopefully back next season, match-day income should be significant again too.

For the clubs that miss out, it will leave a mighty big hole. London’s big three could yet qualify through Europe itself but that would require them to win their respective competitions. The Premier League is the more reliable route.

It has been a bewitchingly turbulent season domestically so far and there will be twists to come.

But the signs aren’t good.