MAN UNITED CURRENTLY sit in fifth place in the Premier League, four points off a top-four spot usually needed to qualify for the Champions League.

With only six games to play, the Red Devils hopes of appearing in Europe’s biggest club competition appear increasingly slim.

However, even if Louis van Gaal’s side do manage to secure fourth spot, there is still a possibility that they could miss out on Champions League football.

If Liverpool win the Europa League and Man City triumph in the Champions League, both would earn Champions League spots next season regardless of where they finish domestically.

Moreover, Leicester have already secured a Champions League spot, while second-place Tottenham and third-place Arsenal are expected to do likewise.

Uefa have confirmed that a maximum of five English teams can compete in next season’s Champions League, so United would be the ones to miss out if this unlikely series of events come to pass.

A similar scenario has happened before, of course — in the 2011-12 season, Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham came fourth and missed out on Champions League football, after Chelsea, who finished below Spurs in the Premier League that year, improbably triumphed in Europe.

Consequently, Man United fans have greater reason than ever to root against their bitter rivals in Europe this season, starting with Liverpool’s Europa League second-leg quarter-final against Dortmund tonight.

h/t The Mirror

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