Manchester United retained third place in the Premier League table over the weekend as Tottenham let a two-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 with relegation-threatened Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
It means United will occupy third over the current international break, ahead of resuming their league campaign against fellow top-four hopefuls Newcastle United on April 2. United, who are currently on 50 points, are two places and three points ahead of the Magpies in the table.
Although that contest at St. James' Park promises to play a key role in the race for a top-four finish, United remain a strong bet to secure Champions League qualification for next season. They have two games in hand on Tottenham and have proven that they can deliver the goods when needed to.
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However, just eight points currently separate Erik ten Hag's side and Brentford in eighth, meaning nothing can be taken for granted just yet. Brentford, Brighton and Liverpool, who are all on 42 points, are also in the running.
Even though Brentford and Brighton are enjoying exceptional campaigns, Liverpool will be considered as the most likely of those three clubs to push for and secure a top-four finish and potentially grab fourth. Should Jurgen Klopp's side enjoy a strong finish to the campaign and occupy the final Champions League place come the end of May, they would usually qualify for the competition without any questions being asked.
However, there is a situation whereby the club that actually finishes fourth this season could miss out on competing in Europe's premier club competition next season. Rules set out by UEFA state that a maximum of five teams from any given country can play in the competition in the same season.
Naturally, almost everyone associates the only route into the Champions League is by finishing first, second, third or fourth in the Premier League table. However, there are other routes into the competition. Winning it secures entry to the following season's competition, as does winning the Europa League, which remains a possibility for United.
That means that in the rare circumstance that two teams from the Premier League, who both finish outside of the top four, win the Champions League and the Europa League then the club that finishes fourth would have to concede its spot and drop into the Europa League.
Using the current Premier League table as context, if every current position remains the same between now and the end of the season and Chelsea, who are currently tenth, win the Champions League, they would qualify for next season's competition, joining, as it stands, Arsenal, Manchester City, United and Tottenham.
However, to complicate matters further, should United drop out of the top four but win the Europa League, they would also qualify for next season's Champions League, as a result of winning UEFA's secondary European competition. That would mean that the Premier League's top three plus United and Chelsea would compete in the Champions League next season, leaving the team that finishes fourth, presumably one of Liverpool, Newcastle or Spurs, to drop into the Europa League instead.
Although United currently look unlikely to miss out on a top-four finish, they know that winning the Europa League would give them an alternative route back into the Champions League for next season. Furthermore, Chelsea must overcome Real Madrid in their respective Champions League quarter-final to keep their hopes of winning a trophy this season alive, and are clear underdogs.
They are currently 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League table, meaning they would have to put a formidable run of form together after the international break to achieve a top-four finish, all whilst hoping that others above them falter.
There are, of course, plenty of ifs and buts involved, but with United and Chelsea still in European competition, nothing can be taken for granted, meaning it is possible that the team who finishes fourth could miss out on Champions League involvement next season.
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