Manchester United risk failing to reach the Europa League knockout stages if they were to drop points against automatic qualification hopefuls Rangers on Thursday night.

Ruben Amorim's side host the Gers off the back of improved form in Europe this season with three straight victories on the continent following a slow start to the league phase. However, they face an inspired Rangers side who were unlucky to leave with just a point in their last outing against fellow Premier League side, Tottenham.

An upset for the home side at Old Trafford could prove costly as they attempt to get their season back on track in both the Premier League and FA Cup.

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How to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages?

There are two different ways to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages. Teams who finish inside the top eight automatically qualify for the round of 16; no side is yet to do so with two games remaining before the final group matchday.

Those who finish from ninth to 16th are seeded into a playoff (playing at home in the second leg), and they'll be drawn against those who finish from 17th to 24th. The winners from each tie after two legs will secure a place in the round of 16.

United currently sit in the seventh spot, one above their Scottish opponents who hold the final automatic spot in the competition's round of 16.

Failure to qualify automatically for the knockout stage would set up another two European fixtures in an already-congested February.

What do United need to progress in the Europa League?

United are yet to be mathematically sure of reaching at least the play-off round. With six points still up for grabs, United's 11 points are just four ahead of FC Midtjylland in 24th. Although it's unlikely, United still risk being dumped out of the competition entirely with winning the trophy looking like the club's only viable passage into the Champions League next season.

Wins against Rangers and FCSB, formerly FC Steaua București, would secure a fast-tracked route into the last 16 and this is what Amorim and his side will be hoping to achieve.

Who could United face if they fail to finish in the top eight?

Failure to finish inside the league phase's top eight would require the club to participate in an extra round of fixtures. The teams that finish the league phase between ninth and 16th will be seeded for the first draw for the knockout phase and will face a team placed 17th to 24th. The seeded team will, in principle, play the return leg at home.

As it stands, if United were to slip below 8th, they would stand to face any of the following clubs:

Viktoria Plzen

Besiktas

Porto

AZ Alkmaar

Union SG

Fenerbahce

PAOK

Midtylland

Tricky visits away to Porto, Besiktas or Fenerbahce, where former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Jose Mourinho reside, could see United eliminated from the competition.

How much prize money could United miss out on?

United have banked more than £1.5 million from their performance-related bonuses in the Europa League but could stand to nearly double this by making the round of 16.

The performance-related bonuses are:

Winner: €13m (£10.95m)

Runner-up: €7m (£5.90m)

Semi-finalists: €4.2m (£3.54m)

Quarter-finalists: €2.5m (£2.11m)

Round of 16: €1.75m (£1.47m)

Reaching knockout round play-off: €300,000 (£252,800)

League-phase wins: €450,000 (£379,201)

League-phase draws: €150,000 (£126,400)