Manchester United are on course to secure Champions League qualificationplaceholder image
Manchester United are on course to secure Champions League qualification | AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd are in the race to secure Uefa Champions League qualification at the end of the season.
Manchester United will continue their bid for Champions League qualification when they return to action next month. Michael Carrick’s side do not play for another two weeks until they host Leeds on Monday 13 April, a game that will come almost a month since they drew with Bournemouth on Friday 20 March.
United looked to have dropped a precious two points in the race for a top-four finish, only for Liverpool and Chelsea both to lose the following day. Aston Villa closed the gap on third with a vital win of their own, though United still ended the game week with an increased advantage on the chasing pack.
A top-four finish will guarantee a place in the Champions League next season, though fifth might also be enough due to the current UEFA coefficient rankings. But just how many points do United need to be certain of Champions League qualification? Here is all you need to know:
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How many points Manchester United need to qualify for the Champions League
Manchester United currently sit third in the Premier League table on 55 points, with just seven matches left of the regular season. It means that United have 21 points left to play for and could theoretically finish the season on 76 points. If they were to win all of their remaining seven matches, then Champions League qualification would be in no doubt.
That is unlikely to happen, though, and that isn’t a problem. All of the teams in the race for Champions League qualification have seven matches left, so it is quite easy to calculate the base level of how many points are needed. Aston Villa can only finish on a maximum of 75 points, though they also have to play Liverpool. Liverpool can finish on a maximum of 70 points, but they have to play United, Villa and Chelsea. Chelsea can finish on 69 points, but have to play both United and Liverpool. All of those teams can’t reach their highest points total, given that they have to play one another.
It means 71 points is the highest number United would need to finish ahead of Aston Villa (72) and Liverpool (70) and guarantee Champions League qualification. That would require 16 points from the last seven matches, though it is unlikely they would need that many either. United also have to play both Liverpool and Chelsea, so a victory over either side would effectively result in a six-point swing and lower the point tally required.
If you look at the current points per game for each side and use that to calculate the final league table, United are on course to finish third on 68 points, four ahead of Aston Villa on 64. Liverpool sits fifth on 60 points and Chelsea sixth with 58. By those estimations, 61 points might well be enough for Champions League qualification, as few as six points from the last seven matches.
Given the likelihood that fifth-place could also secure Champions League qualification next season, United are in an excellent position to return to the top-table of European football.
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