Champions League play-offs considered by Premier League

Richard Scudamore has revealed Premier League chiefs considered the idea of introducing a play-off for the competition's fourth and final Champions League berth.

The plan would have involved the teams finishing fourth through to seventh in the Barclays Premier League vying for the right to enter the qualifying rounds of Europe's elite club competition.

This season, that would have resulted in fourth-placed Arsenal facing Everton, who came seventh, and Tottenham (fifth) playing Liverpool (sixth), with the winners of those matches advancing to the play-off final.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, a number of top-flight clubs were in favour of the idea, although Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are thought to have voiced opposition.

Premier League chief executive Scudamore said: "We had a look at it. There was some interest but ultimately it was felt to stick with [the current system]."