Why Man Utd are hoping City, Arsenal, Liverpool & other rivals do well in Europe
As the three European club competitions make a welcome return for their knockout stages this week, we have a very interesting little sideshow.
What has become known as the 'top four' in the Premier League could be about to become the 'top five' when it comes to Champions League qualification.
But after both Manchester United and Newcastle United crashed out of Europe's top competition after the group stage, England's extra place hangs in the balance.
The Premier League is currently jostling with Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's LaLiga for just two additional spots in the expanded 36-team Champions League group stage next season.
And, as it stands, the Premier League will miss out on that extra place with Italy and Germany rewarded instead.
That would obviously be a major blow to the self-styled 'best league in the world' and the performance of Man United and Newcastle before Christmas would be heavily to blame.
But all hope isn't lost yet. A good performance by Manchester City and Arsenal in the Champions League from here, plus strong showings by the English clubs left in the Europa League and the Europa Conference League - all are taken into account in the sums - and England will get its fifth spot.
UEFA is basing everything on its Association Club Coefficient ranking, a league table of all its member nations based on how their clubs get on.
Ahead of the Champions League expansion, they're only looking at this season's performances to allocate the extra places.
The best two leagues get one - that's where the Premier League is hoping to end up - as well as the one that finishes in fifth place (likely to be France or the Netherlands).
The final extra spot in the 36-team group stage goes to the 'champions path'
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