Why Manchester United might have to rely on Man City for Champions League place

Manchester United could be left supporting Manchester City and Liverpool in Europe this season, with qualification for the Champions League looking increasingly likely that they will have to lean on their bitter rivals for help.

United travel to City this weekend in the derby - and have just been given an FA Cup final draw at home to Liverpool - as Erik Ten Hag looks to save his season, and potentially his job. With City and Liverpool going toe to toe again at the top of the Premier League, they are almost certain to qualify for the Champions League again.

The top four places will qualify for the Champions League, as usual, with UEFA's top competition undergoing a revamp as of next season. United are currently sixth, eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, and three behind Tottenham in fifth. If they lose the derby on Sunday, they could find themselves 11 points adrift of qualification through the normal means - although there is another route to qualifying.

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As it stands, United's best chance of European qualification is to finish fifth and reach the Europa League. They are three points off Spurs, who have a game in hand, but that is a far easier deficit to claw back.

There is the possibility, however, that United can finish fifth and earn an unlikely place in the Champions League - but it will need help from City and Liverpool.

With the number of teams in the Champions League expanding to 36, there will be an extra place given to the top two leagues across Europe according to their co-efficient. Italy and Germany lead the