Chelsea learn new Europa League advantage over Man United as end-of-season decisions explained

Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to put all their eggs into the FA Cup basket as Chelsea ensured that the race for the top six will be contested by three teams heading into the final weeks of the season. With Newcastle currently occupying the last Europa League spot, it's all to play for.

Eddie Howe's side made it four wins from their last five games after a scintillating first half against Burnley on Saturday, moving themselves to just four points behind Tottenham. Erik ten Hag has the chance to respond on Monday against Crystal Palace as United seek to leapfrog Chelsea and Newcastle back into sixth.

It could leave just two points between the sides with a fortnight left to go of the season. For Chelsea and Newcastle, who have both disappointed for much of the campaign, it is a chance to qualify for Europe that they may not have expected at the turn of the year.

For United, it is a serious worry. Ten Hag has had his team sitting outside the top five all year despite underwhelming performances and results, but have dropped off from being an outside contender for the Champions League, and now face a battle to even get into the Europa League.

After England failed to secure an extra spot for the Champions League it means that eighth will not be enough to get into Europe. Seventh will be a Europa League place, but only if United don't win the FA Cup and finish outside the top six.

Newcastle and Manchester United also face each other next week. Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest and Brighton before finishing with the visit of Bournemouth to SW6.

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Neville believes that United need to look beyond the league table though. "Chelsea have just improved over the last few weeks," he said on the Gary Neville podcast with Sky Sports. "Just picking my phone up there at halftime, looking at the notifications and it saying that Harry Maguire has gotten injured in training. That's the one position they [Manchester United] couldn't afford an injury.

"He's the one defender fit, or centre-back fit. That would be a real problem for United. United's season largely depends on the FA Cup, just generally. Their league form this season has been so inconsistent.

"Yes, they want to try and finish as well as they can and win tomorrow night [Monday] against Crystal Palace and give a great account of themselves at home to Arsenal, but getting as many players as possible in the next couple of weeks so they're as ready as they can be to try and do something on the May 25 in that cup final is their absolute priority."

For Chelsea, this could give them a serious chance to rise up the table. Mauricio Pochettino is now within view of qualifying for Europe as well as reaching the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup semi-final.

With his position to be assessed at the end of the season, getting a place in Europe is expected to be vital when his performance is under the microscope. Should United fail to make use of the league table then it's there for Chelsea's gain.