Manchester United's primary aim over the final few games of the Premier League season is to secure Champions League football.
The Reds are well placed to do exactly that, with the win over Wolves last time out moving them level on points with Newcastle United in third. Liverpool, having played a game more, are a point adrift while Brighton cannot be mathematically discounted even if the Seagulls have in all likelihood got too much ground to make up.
United finish the season with a trip to Bournemouth followed by back-to-back home games against Chelsea and Fulham. Erik ten Hag's side should be able to secure the six points they will need to see Champions League football return to Old Trafford.
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Finishing in fifth would bring entry into the Europa League, a competition United have already secured a passage into courtesy of their Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United in February.
The Reds could overhaul the Magpies in the closing weeks of the campaign to finish third, which has in the past resulted in a different passage in the Champions League. Previously sides finishing in fourth had to navigate a play-off round to reach the group stage, as United did in 2015-16.
But since the 2018-19 season, the top four sides from the leading nations according to the UEFA Coefficient have gone straight into the group stages. This means that finishing third or fourth will make no difference to United in terms of their Champions League qualification.
Ten Hag's side will likely be in the second pot of teams for the draw for the 2023-24 competition. While United have been absent from Europe's top table more than they would like in recent years, performances in the Europa League have maintained their club coefficient - the system used to determine Champions League seedings.
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