What do Manchester United & West Ham need to finish in the Europa League spots?

Manchester United and West Ham United head into the last game of the 2021/22 Premier League season knowing either club can earn a Europa League spot.

However, whichever side misses out and ends up finishing seventh will play in the Europa Conference League instead next season.

Neither United or West Ham can make the Champions League spots and both are guaranteed to finish sixth and seventh.

It’s Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal who will finish fifth, with the latter expected to occupy that place by the end of Sunday night, but which side will join them in the Europa League next term?

What do Man Utd need?

Ralf Rangnick’s side currently sit sixth and are two points clear of the Hammers. That means a win for United on Sunday away to Crystal Palace will guarantee them a place in the Europa League.

A draw will be enough, assuming West Ham don’t win, while a loss could also suffice only if their nearest rivals lose on the final weekend of the campaign.

What do West Ham need?

The Irons travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday and, while trailing United on points, have a significant advantage of a goal difference, which is 10 better off.

The two-point gap to the Red Devils means West Ham have to win at the Amex and hope United don’t - and three points for the Irons coupled with a draw or defeat for Rangnick’s side on Sunday would see them jump into sixth and United finish seventh.

West Ham made it to the semi-final of this year’s Europa League but were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt.