Will Manchester United Qualify for UEFA Champions League After Chelsea Lost To Brighton?

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Will Manchester United Qualify for UEFA Champions League After Chelsea Lost To Brighton?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Apr 21, 2026 4:53 PM ET

Chelsea suffered their fifth straight loss in the Premier League as they lost 3-0 to Brighton away from home today.

With this result, Chelsea has dropped to 7th in the league table with 48 points, and their chances to qualify for the Champions League next season have been hindered massively.

Chelsea only has four Premier League games left this season, and the highest possible number of points the team can finish on in the league table is 60 points. This can highly favor Manchester United, who are third in the Premier League table.

Manchester United defeated Chelsea 1-0 away from home over the weekend, which positioned them as one of the first teams to qualify for the Champions League next season, alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.

Manchester United's players celebrate at the final whistle after the Premier League match at the Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Saturday April 18, 2026. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images

Has Manchester United Qualified for the Champions League?

Following Chelsea's loss to Brighton tonight, Manchester United has still not qualified for the Champions League next season, but they are very close.

The result puts them in a very good position to qualify for the Champions League if they continue to win their upcoming games, and it will depend on teams between 4th and 11th to drop points in the next games.

Brighton's win over Chelsea puts them 6th with 50 points, and they have four games left. The maximum number of points Brighton can finish on is 62 points, only four points more than where Manchester United sits now.

In the next matchweek, Manchester United needs two more wins to secure Champions League football next season. They play Brentford next Monday and then Liverpool at home on May 3, 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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