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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Josh Challies

The UEFA decision that could hand Manchester United Champions League spot at Man City's expense

UEFA is holding a meeting today to discuss plans on how to move forward amid the coronavirus crisis and key decisions could be made.

A number of leagues across Europe have announced the cancellation of the 2019/20 season, with decisions to be made on what happens in that scenario to European qualification.

While there has been suggestions UEFA’s coefficient rankings could be used, the governing body's own rules state that qualification must be decided on ‘sporting merit’ - which means that scenario cannot be used.

Instead, one option would be to hand European qualification out on a points-per-game basis - which would lead to significant changes at both ends of the Premier League.

This means working out each club's average points per game, accrued across the games played so far.

Such a scenario would see the Champions League places go to Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester United, who would get Manchester City's spot due to their UEFA ban, should their appeal not be won.

Sheffield United would leapfrog Wolves to go sixth, securing Europa League football for the Blades.

Goal difference would play a role in separating teams level on points per game and, as a result, Watford and West Ham would avoid the drop, while Bournemouth, Norwich and Aston Villa would all go down.

Elsewhere in the table, ninth-placed Arsenal would leapfrog London rivals Tottenham to go eighth, while all other positions would remain as it currently stands.

2019/20 points-per-game table

1. Liverpool - 2.83

2. Man City - 2.04

3. Leicester - 1.83

4. Chelsea - 1.66

5. Manchester United - 1.55

6. Sheffield United - 1.54

7. Wolves - 1.48

8. Arsenal - 1.43

9. Tottenham - 1.41

10. Burnley - 1.34

11. Crystal Palace - 1.34

12. Everton - 1.28

13. Newcastle - 1.21

14. Southampton - 1.17

15. Brighton - 1.00

16. West Ham - 0.93

17. Watford - 0.93

18. Bournemouth - 0.93

19. Aston Villa - 0.89

20. Norwich - 0.72

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