At the halfway stage of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Manchester United sit 14th in the table.

Monday night's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Old Trafford has left the Reds 13 points short of the coveted Champions League qualification places and just seven above the relegation zone.

As fanciful as it might seem to consider United as being in danger of being relegated to the Championship, their current form suggests it is entirely possible. After all, the table does not lie.

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United have lost each of their last four matches across all competitions and have failed to find the back of the net in each of their last three in the league. Sunday's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool could not have come at a worse time.

A week after facing Arne Slot's side, United will travel to the Emirates Stadium for an FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal. The FA Cup third round is often littered with surprises, and it would be a big one if United's defence of their crown was to make it beyond the first hurdle.

The prospect of being sucked even closer towards the drop zone this weekend and being dumped out of the FA Cup the following Sunday means plenty of pressure could be on their Europa League campaign. United will resume their European adventure later this month, facing Rangers and FCSB in their final two league phase outings.

Currently sitting seventh in the standings, United will fancy their chances of being one of the eight sides that gain automatic qualification for the last-16. Those that finish between ninth and 24th will require a play-off round consisting of a two-legged tie in February.

United are still unbeaten in the Europa League this season, winning three and drawing three of their first six matches, and captain Bruno Fernandes, ahead of the 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in November, ranked winning the competition as being "probably the biggest target" United could aim for this season.

"For us, the Europa League is a target," he said. "It's probably the biggest target we have for the season, as silverware in a European competition - it's really big.

"We're still in the FA Cup, which is massive for us. We know really well from last season how much it means for us and the fans."

At that juncture, United were still in the Carabao Cup and were just six points shy of the top four, meaning Champions League qualification for 2025/26 via the Premier League was still very much a realistic ambition. Nothing is impossible in football, but you would be brave to back United to achieve a top four finish from the position they now find themselves in.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, after securing a minority stake in United last February, highlighted the importance of being in the Champions League amid its financial benefits. However, United are highly likely to be missing from European football's top table next season for the second campaign running unless they can pull something out of the bag in the Europa League.

This season's Europa League winners will secure automatic qualification for the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League campaign if they fail to qualify for the competition via their domestic league finish. Given United's current predicament, a top four finish this term is almost out of the question.

It means United may have to pour as much energy and focus into their Europa League campaign once the competition resumes later this month as possible. Jose Mourinho, ahead of United's 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in October, described his former club as one of the "biggest candidates" to win the competition alongside Tottenham Hotspur.

United might have to live up to that billing if they are to save this season and give them something to look forward to next. Participation in the Champions League next season will be a crucial selling point to prospective signings and increase Amorim's transfer budget.