How can Man Utd qualify for the Champions League?

Manchester United had been aided by a rather tame post-Christmas schedule to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games ahead of the Manchester Derby.

Pep Guardiola's Cityzens came to town in a bit of a slump, but Jack Grealish's second-half opener put them in a great position to stroll out of Old Trafford with three points and bragging rights. Then, in the space of four unforgettable and controversial minutes, the Red Devils turned the tide. A 1-0 deficit swiftly morphed into a 2-1 advantage. The Theatre of Dreams was alive and kicking.

United's victory over their noisy neighbours solidified their legitmacy under Erik ten Hag. While a title charge may be out of their reach, they're in an excellent position to return to the Champions League via a top-four Premier League finish.

How Man Utd can qualify for the Champions League

Man Utd have two avenues into the Champions League next season. As it stands, a top-four finish appears more likely than a Europa League triumph given their opponents in the first knockout round.

Ten Hag's couldn't have asked for a trickier tie as they were paired against Barcelona in the play-offs. The victor will advance into the round of 16, where the likes of Arsenal, Real Betis and Real Sociedad await. They could also be joined by Juventus, Ajax, AS Roma, and Sporting CP should each of these teams win their respective play-off ties.

Thus, while United are one of the favourites to win the Europa League, the competition is a strong one.

In the Premier League, the Red Devils currently boast a healthy advantage over some of their projected rivals. While Newcastle have equalled their points tally having played a game more, United are comfortably ahead of Tottenham (five points), Liverpool, and Chelsea (both ten points) in the standings. Fulham, Brighton and Brentford are all European hopefuls, but none of these teams are expected to compete for a top-four berth.

So, while there is a long way to go, United are in a very strong position to qualify for the Champions League by securing a top-four finish.

Man Utd remaining Premier League fixtures (4th; Played 18, 38pts)

• Crystal Palace vs Man Utd (20:00) - 18/01/23
• Arsenal vs Man Utd (16:30) - 22/01/23
• Man Utd vs Crystal Palace (15:00) - 04/02/23
• Leeds Utd vs Man Utd (14:00) - 12/02/23
• Man Utd vs Leicester (14:00) - 19/02/23
• Man Utd vs Brentford (13:30) - 26/02/23
• Liverpool vs Man Utd (15:00) - 04/03/23
• Man Utd vs Southampton (15:00) - 11/03/23
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs Man Utd (15:00) - 18/03/23
• Newcastle vs Man Utd (15:00) - 01/04/23
• Man Utd vs Everton (15:00) - 08/04/23
• Nottingham Forest vs Man Utd (15:00) - 15/04/23
• Man Utd vs Chelsea (15:00) - 22/04/23
• Tottenham vs Man Utd (19:45) - 25/04/23
• Man Utd vs Aston Villa (15:00) - 29/04/23
• West Ham vs Man Utd (15:00) - 06/05/23
• Man Utd vs Wolves (15:00) - 13/05/23
• Bournemouth vs Man Utd (15:00) - 20/05/23
• Man Utd vs Fulham (16:00) - 28/05/23

Newcastle remaining Premier League fixtures (3rd; Played 19, 38pts)

• Crystal Palace vs Newcastle (17:30) - 21/01/23
• Newcastle vs West Ham (17:30) - 04/02/23
• Bournemouth vs Newcastle (17:30) - 11/02/23
• Newcastle vs Liverpool (17:30) - 18/02/23
• Newcastle vs Brighton & Hove Albion (12:30) - 25/02/23
• Man City vs Newcastle (15:00) - 04/03/23
• Newcastle vs Wolves (15:00) - 11/03/23
• Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle (15:00) - 18/03/23
• Newcastle vs Man Utd (15:00) - 01/04/23
• Brentford vs Newcastle (15:00) - 08/04/23
• Aston Villa vs Newcastle (15:00) - 15/04/23
• Newcastle vs Tottenham (15:00) - 22/04/23
• Everton vs Newcastle (19:45) - 25/04/23
• Newcastle vs Southampton (15:00) - 29/04/23
• Newcastle vs Arsenal (15:00) - 06/05/23
• Leeds Utd vs Newcastle (15:00) - 13/05/23
• Newcastle vs Leicester (15:00) - 20/05/23
• Chelsea vs Newcastle (16:00) - 28/05/23

Tottenham remaining Premier League fixtures (5th; Played 19, 33pts)

• Man City vs Tottenham (20:00) - 19/01/23
• Fulham vs Tottenham (20:00) - 23/01/23
• Tottenham vs Man City (16:30) - 05/02/23
• Leicester vs Tottenham (15:00) - 11/02/23
• Tottenham vs West Ham (16:30) - 19/02/23
• Tottenham vs Chelsea (13:30) - 26/02/23
• Wolves vs Tottenham (15:00) - 04/03/23
• Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest (15:00) - 11/03/23
• Southampton vs Tottenham (15:00) - 18/03/23
• Everton vs Tottenham (15:00) - 01/04/23
• Tottenham vs Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00) - 08/04/23
• Tottenham vs Bournemouth (15:00) - 15/04/23
• Newcastle vs Tottenham (15:00) - 22/04/23
• Tottenham vs Man Utd (19:45) - 25/04/23
• Liverpool vs Tottenham (15:00) - 29/04/23
• Tottenham vs Crystal Palace (15:00) - 06/05/23
• Aston Villa vs Tottenham (15:00) - 13/05/23
• Tottenham vs Brentford (15:00) - 20/05/23
• Leeds Utd vs Tottenham (16:00) - 28/05/23

Liverpool remaining Premier League fixtures (9th; Played 18, 28pts)

• Liverpool vs Chelsea (12:30) - 21/01/23
• Wolves vs Liverpool (15:00) - 04/02/23
• Liverpool vs Everton (20:00) - 13/02/23
• Newcastle vs Liverpool (17:30) - 18/02/23
• Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (19:45) - 25/02/23
• Liverpool vs Man Utd (15:00) - 04/03/23
• Bournemouth vs Liverpool (15:00) - 11/03/23
• Liverpool vs Fulham (15:00) - 18/03/23
• Man City vs Liverpool (15:00) - 01/04/23
• Liverpool vs Arsenal (15:00) - 08/04/23
• Leeds Utd vs Liverpool (15:00) - 15/04/23
• Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest (15:00) - 22/04/23
• West Ham vs Liverpool (19:45) - 25/04/23
• Liverpool vs Tottenham (15:00) - 29/04/23
• Liverpool vs Brentford (15:00) - 06/05/23
• Leicester vs Liverpool (15:00) - 13/05/23
• Liverpool vs Aston Villa (15:00) - 20/05/23
• Southampton vs Liverpool (16:00) - 28/05/23

Chelsea remaining Premier League fixtures (10th; Played 19, 28pts)

• Liverpool vs Chelsea (12:30) - 21/01/23
• Chelsea vs Fulham (20:00) - 03/02/23
• West Ham vs Chelsea (12:30) - 11/02/23
• Chelsea vs Southampton (15:00) - 18/02/23
• Tottenham vs Chelsea (13:30) - 26/02/23
• Chelsea vs Leeds Utd (15:00) - 04/03/23
• Leicester vs Chelsea (15:00) - 11/03/23
• Chelsea vs Everton (15:00) - 18/03/23
• Chelsea vs Aston Villa (15:00) - 01/04/23
• Wolves vs Chelsea (15:00) - 08/04/23
• Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00) - 15/04/23
• Man Utd vs Chelsea (15:00) - 22/04/23
• Chelsea vs Brentford (19:45) - 26/04/23
• Arsenal vs Chelsea (15:00) - 29/04/23
• Bournemouth vs Chelsea (15:00) - 06/05/23
• Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest (15:00) - 13/05/23
• Man City vs Chelsea (15:00) - 20/05/23
• Chelsea vs Newcastle (16:00) - 28/05/23