Why sixth-place finish could see Man Utd qualify for Champions League after UEFA rule change

Manchester United could qualify for the Champions League with a sixth-place finish thanks to a UEFA rule.

This season has been an underwhelming one for Man United, with Erik ten Hag's side currently sixth in the Premier League table having already lost 12 games.

Ten Hag enjoyed a promising first campaign in charge at Old Trafford, ending the club's trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and securing a return to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish.

This season hasn't gone according to plan though, and the Dutch manager is skating on thin ice with new minority owners Ineos unsure if he is the man to lead the club forward.

With 11 points currently separating United from fourth and fifth position in the table with just seven matches left to play, fans at Old Trafford have all but given up hope of watching Champions League football next season.

However, a change to the competition format could hand United a lifeline.

The 2024-25 season will be the first to feature the Champions League's new 'Swiss-style' opening stage, with 36 teams involved rather than the 32 in this season's competition.

As par of the expansion, the two domestic leagues with the highest UEFA coefficient will have five teams qualify based on their league position.

At the moment Germany and Italy hold those positions, but with five of the six English clubs in the last-16 of European competitions making it through to the quarter-finals, England could sneak in.

Ten Hag has insisted he expects to be at United next season (Getty)

Should the Premier League be granted an extra Champions League qualification spot, then a unique set of circumstances would see United qualify.

Should West Ham finish fifth but also win the Europa League this season - doing so automatically guarantees a place in the Champions League - then the team in sixth will qualify for the Champions League.

West Ham are currently seventh in the table and 12 points off fifth-place Aston Villa, so at present this looks extremely unlikely.

If one of the top four teams wins the Champions League or Europa League, the extra spot would not drop down.