Manchester United and Chelsea remain in the final day hunt for European football, with both teams needing results to go their way if they're to jump up the Premier League table and claim spots in continental competition

Neither side, who have both invested heavily, have had the season they would've wanted. Chelsea at one point were facing the prospect of another mid-table finish under their American owners whilst United have set numerous unwanted records that sum up their problems, having fallen some way below the level of 2022-23, during Erik ten Hag's debut season.

This term, Ten Hag has presided over the most losses in a Premier League season for a United side, but they avoided another by beating Newcastle on Wednesday night which keeps their hopes of finishing as high as seventh alive. Mathematically they can finish sixth, but goal difference makes that unlikely.

Their hopes are likely to be pinned on the FA Cup final in a weeks time. They, for the second straight year, will face Manchester City at Wembley. They go in as huge underdogs but a victory could be their best route into the Europa League - and potentially keep Ten Hag in a job.

They beat Brighton on Wednesday night to ensure they're in pole position to finish sixth. Chelsea can yet finish as high as fifth, but they will need a favour from already relegated Sheffield United when they host Tottenham. Newcastle too remain in the hunt and while losing at Old Trafford was a big blow, they're above United in the table on goal difference - which is far superior - and arguably have an easier game on the final day when they travel to Brentford.

Plenty of movement could yet occur with several moving pieces set to be the difference between the Europa League and the Europa Conference League.

Chelsea's win at Brighton put them in pole position to finish sixth ( Image:

So more likely they need to better Newcastle's result. The Magpies head to Brentford whilst United will be on the road at Brighton. For the Red Devils it'll either be eighth and no European football - prior to the outcome of the FA Cup final - or seventh and the Europa Conference League.

The result at Wembley next week will supersede whatever happens on the final day of the Premier League.

The most important thing to note with United set to finish seventh or eighth is this... If the Red Devils win the FA Cup and finish lower than sixth, then the team who finishes seventh will miss out on a European spot altogether with the side who finishes sixth earning a spot in the Europa Conference League.

How can Chelsea qualify for Europe? The Blues will be eyeing a fifth place finish, but most importantly looking to preserve their sixth spot and a route into the Europa League. They can be caught by Newcastle, who would need Chelsea to lose and them to win.

Pochettino and co will instead be seeking a favour from the Blades, albeit they've only won three games all year. If there is a shock win in Sheffield and Chelsea beat Bournemouth then they will jump up to sixth.

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