Manchester United ’s hopes of Champions League qualification have been boosted before even kicking a ball.
Man Utd are currently level on points with Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Premier League table, but crucially have played a game fewer than their direct rivals for a Champions League spot.
The reason United sit above Liverpool is by virtue of scoring one more goal, while they have a vastly superior goal difference to Villa who slipped a place after defeat to Fulham .
The aforementioned game in hand will be played on Monday night as Man United host a Brentford side, which has drawn their last five league games in a row, at Old Trafford .
United’s advantage of going last in this matchweek is the knowledge they cannot drop out of the top five, even if they are stung by the Bees for a second time this season .
With that said, the incentive for Michael Carrick’s side is victory would leave them on the brink of sealing a return to the Champions League before facing Liverpool in what will almost be a shootout for third.
Manchester United’s remaining Premier League fixtures
Man United’s maximum points total is 73 but they are not required to win all their remaining matches to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
As a result, United need five more points from a possible 15 available to be back at Europe’s top table and that works out to be one win and two draws from their remaining matches .
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This means Man United have the security blanket of knowing they can afford to lose twice and still achieve their target of Champions League football.
There is a scenario where Man Utd beat Brentford and qualify for the Champions League before facing Liverpool, but Brighton and Bournemouth would have to drop points against Newcastle and Crystal Palace respectively.
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Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard
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