Manchester United set for advantage over Newcastle and Arsenal in Champions League next season

Manchester United are, in theory, set for an easier Champions League group than Arsenal and Newcastle due to their superior Uefa coefficient ranking.

United need just one point from their final two games to secure a top-four finish, with Chelsea coming to Old Trafford on Thursday before Fulham's visit on the final day of the season. Erik ten Hag's side have been on course for Champions League qualification for the majority of a brilliant debut season under the Dutchman, holding off a resurgent Liverpool in recent weeks.

While their spot in next season's competition is not yet 100 per cent confirmed, those involved at United will already be looking towards August 31 and the draw for next season's group phase, with a return to Europe's elite competition the major objective of Ten Hag's first year in charge.

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Newcastle confirmed their top-four finish with Monday's 0-0 draw at home to Leicester City, joining Premier League champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal in confirming their place in the draw. But should the Reds get their name in the hat come August, a higher UEFA coefficient ranking should see them enjoy a preferable draw.

United are seventh in the current rankings, behind Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, and will be in pot two for the draw.

The rankings are calculated based on presence and results in all three major European competitions over the past five seasons.

Ten Hag's side were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla at the quarter-final stage this year, but made it to the last-16 of the Champions League last season and the Europa League final a year before that. They have