Champions League change could help Manchester United next season

Premier League clubs will be mindful of the fact that a fifth Champions League spot could be up for grabs this season.

For the very first time in Premier League history, the 2023/24 campaign could see five teams qualify for the following season's Champions League campaign through their league positions. Traditionally, the top four clubs in the Premier League go into Europe's premier club competition for the following campaign.

Only once in Premier League history have five teams qualified for the Champions League for the following season. That was when Liverpool won Europe's top prize back in 2005, but finished outside of the top four during the 2004/05 league campaign, finishing fifth.

The Champions League is going to have a very different look to it from the start of the 2024/25 season, with an expanded 36 clubs participating in a 'Swiss league' format. This will allow an additional spot to be allocated to two countries whose clubs collectively performed the best in UEFA competitions during the 2023/24 season.

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So, if Premier League clubs provide one of the top two performances for a nation across this season's Champions League, the Europa League and Europa Conference League, the club that finishes fifth in the Premier League this season will secure a Champions League spot for 2024/25. Manchester United have finished outside of the top four in five of the last 10 seasons, while City last failed to finish in the top four in 2010.

Last term, of course, City won the Champions League, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final in