Premier League on the brink of disastrous outcome after Man Utd's Champions League exit
Manchester United's Champions League exit may be costly
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The Premier League may suffer as a whole from Manchester United's humiliating Champions League exit with the English top flight currently out of the running to secure a fifth qualifying spot for next year's revamped competition.
Europe's elite competition will look vastly different next year as they abandon the current group stage format.
In its place will be a 'Swiss-style' format with four additional teams being added to the competition.
That ultimately means that four extra places are available for the Champions League, with UEFA awarding two spots to the countries with the best coefficient rating for the previous season.
The Premier League are relying on Newcastle
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England finished last season with the best coefficient rating in Europe, ahead of Italy meaning they would have both been handed a fifth qualifying spot had the Champions League changes been introduced this season.
However, England are third this season with United's fourth-place finish in their group not helping.
Newcastle's match against AC Milan this evening is now even more critical with England just behind Italy in the coefficient table.
Eddie Howe's side must beat Milan at home and rely on Paris Saint-Germain either drawing or losing to Borussia Dortmund to make it through to the knockout stages.
Premier League sides will be at least hoping that Newcastle, at worst, finish third in their group and reach the Europa League play-off round.
The number of points each association earns every season is divided by the number of teams that participated in Europe that campaign.
The results of each match have significance too as two points are awarded for each win and one for a draw.
But the Premier League have missed out on five crucial bonus points from United's inability to qualify for the round of 16.
It might also come back to bite United by the end of the season, who may need to rely on the fifth qualifying spot to make next year's Champions League.
They're currently sixth in the table and face a difficult trip to table-toppers Liverpool this weekend.
And Erik ten Hag has indicated how much United will be up against it by claiming injuries to his squad played a part in their defeat to Bayern Munich.
"That’s clear," he said.
"The players gave everything – you saw the spirit and, as I said, I have to credit the team, big compliment for the way they worked together as a team against this good Bayern side.
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Bruno Fernandes will not play against Liverpool
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"But, of course, when the game is going, you need energy from the bench, and especially in the frontline, the options were limited.
"And the United boss will be without skipper Bruno Fernandes for the game against Liverpool after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.