Although Manchester City and Arsenal have guaranteed seats in the Champions League, the remaining two spaces are up for grabs with teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Newcastle competing for them.
Spurs let a two-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 with relegation-threatened Southampton on Saturday afternoon, which allowed Manchester United to keep third position in the Premier League standings throughout the weekend.
It means that United will be in third place during the current international break before returning to league play on April 2 against fellow top-four contender Newcastle United. The Magpies are two positions and three points behind United, who have 50 points on the board.
Manchester United to hold onto the 3rd position?
Even though the match at St. James’ Park is expected to be crucial in the battle for a top-four finish, United have still a good chance to make the Champions League for the next season. They lead Tottenham by two games and have shown that they can perform when called upon.
But, Erik ten Hag’s team and Brentford, who are now in seventh place, are only separated by eight points, so nothing is certain just yet. On 42 points apiece, Brentford, Brighton, and Liverpool are all in contention.
The Red Devils have a trick on their sleeve
Liverpool will be seen as the most probable of the three teams to compete for and achieve a top-four finish and perhaps take the fourth spot, despite the fact that Brentford and Brighton are having outstanding seasons. If Jurgen Klopp’s team has a great finish to the season and is in the last Champions League spot by the end of May, they would typically automatically qualify for the tournament.
The team that actually places fourth this season, however, may not be able to participate in Europe’s top club tournament the following year. A maximum of five teams from a single nation may compete in the league during any given season, according to UEFA regulations.
Understandably, nearly everyone assumes that placing first, second, third, or fourth in the Premier League standings is the only way to qualify for the Champions League. There are alternative ways to enter the tournament, though. Winning it guarantees United admission into the competition the following season, just as does winning the Europa League, which is still a possibility.
The club that finishes fourth would have to give up its berth and move into the Europa League in the unlikely event that two Premier League clubs who both finishes outside of the top four wins both the Champions League and the Europa League.
