How many points do Manchester United need to guarantee Champions League qualification?

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·26 April 2026

How many points do Manchester United need to guarantee Champions League qualification?

Man United are strong favourites to join Arsenal and Man City in the Champions League next season

Manchester United’s hopes of Champions League qualification have been boosted before even kicking a ball.

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Man Utd are currently level on points with Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Premier League table, but crucially have played a game fewer than their direct rivals for a Champions League spot.

The reason United sit above Liverpool is by virtue of scoring one more goal, while they have a vastly superior goal difference to Villa who slipped a place after defeat to Fulham.

The aforementioned game in hand will be played on Monday night as Man United host a Brentford side, which has drawn their last five league games in a row, at Old Trafford.

United’s advantage of going last in this matchweek is the knowledge they cannot drop out of the top five, even if they are stung by the Bees for a second time this season.

With that said, the incentive for Michael Carrick’s side is victory would leave them on the brink of sealing a return to the Champions League before facing Liverpool in what will almost be a shootout for third.

When factoring in Man United play three of their remaining five Premier League matches at home and a clear freshness in comparison to their rivals, it would take an almighty collapse to not finish in the top five.

Manchester United’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Brentford (H), April 27

Liverpool (H), May 3

Sunderland (A), May 9

Nottingham Forest (H), May 17

Brighton (A), May 24

Bruno Fernandes has helped put Manchester United on the brink of Champions League qualification

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How many points to Manchester United need to guarantee Champions League qualification?

Man United’s maximum points total is 73 but they are not required to win all their remaining matches to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

In fact, 63 points would make sure of a top-five finish as Brighton - currently in sixth - can only reach 62 points if they win their last four matches which includes Man Utd at home on the final day of the season.

As a result, United need five more points from a possible 15 available to be back at Europe’s top table and that works out to be one win and two draws from their remaining matches.

This means Man United have the security blanket of knowing they can afford to lose twice and still achieve their target of Champions League football.

There is a scenario where Man Utd beat Brentford and qualify for the Champions League before facing Liverpool, but Brighton and Bournemouth would have to drop points against Newcastle and Crystal Palace respectively.