What Manchester United winning the Europa League would mean for the Premier League's top six

The Europa League Final is looming close for Manchester United but what would victory in Stockholm later this month mean for the Red Devils and their top six rivals?

Arsenal have already benefitted from United’s increased focus on Europe’s second competition, with Jose Mourinho leaving Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford on the bench as the Gunners won 2-0 at the Emirates.

After that defeat Mourinho conceded that it would be “impossible” for his side to qualify directly for the Champions League through a top four finish. United are four points off Manchester City and five off Liverpool, who have played a game more.

Arsenal could also overtake the Red Devils if they win their game in hand, away to Southampton on Wednesday.

However United’s hopes of Champions League qualification are far from extinct, with the winners of the Europa League guaranteed a spot in next season’s group stage draw.

United can book their place in the final on May 24 if they overcome Celta Vigo, who they beat 1-0 in the first leg, at Old Trafford on Thursday. They would likely face Ajax at the Friends Arena, with the Dutch giants holding a 4-1 aggregate lead over Lyon.

If United win the Europa League and finish outside the top four the Premier League would have five entrants into next season’s Champions League, with the top-flight’s fourth-placed team required to go through a play-off before reaching the group stage.

Theoretically Mourinho’s side are only guaranteed a playoff spot but practically are certain to be placed in the group stage as all four current Champions League semi-finalists will qualify for next season’s tournament.

Champions League rules state that if the tournament holders do not qualify on the basis of their league finish then the winners of the Europa League must go through the playoffs but that will not be the case this season.

In the unlikely event that United win the Europa League and finish fourth or higher the Premier League will have its usual four entrants, with no concessions being made to those sides who finish below the Red Devils.

Currently the teams placed fifth to seventh in the Premier League table would qualify for the Europa League, with fifth and sixth assured of spots in the group stage.

The maximum number of English teams in Uefa competitions is seven so if United were to become the fifth team in the Champions League only two teams would qualify for the Europa League.