Manchester United could miss out on a place in next season's Champions League if bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester City both seal European glory this term.
United are still hopeful of bridging the four-point gap and catching City for fourth place in the Premier League, thus taking the final Champions League berth from their local rivals.
But even if they do finish fourth, the Red Devils' arch-rivals Liverpool and City could still have a say in their European future.
There is a limit of five teams from any one league in the Champions League -- La Liga had five representatives this season after Sevilla won the Europa League last term.
But a league cannot have six teams, so if both European title holders come from the same league and neither finish in the top four, then fourth place only qualifies for the Europa League group stage.
It means that if Manchester City win the Champions League and Liverpool the Europa League, and City also finish fifth, then fourth in the Premier League only goes into UEFA's second-tier competition.
Here's a breakdown of what can happen should one, or both teams lift a European trophy:
Neither Liverpool nor Man City win in Europe
Premier League 1-3 goes to the Champions League group stage, fourth place to the final qualifying round. The FA Cup winners and fifth in the league are in the Europa League group stage. The winners of the Capital One Cup, Manchester City, go to the Europa League third qualifying round -- but as they are almost certain to qualify via the league that place will transfer to sixth in the Premier League. If Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish top six, then seventh in the league earns a place in the third qualifying round.
Man City win Champions League and finish in top four
Premier League has four teams in the Champions League -- there is only an additional place for the title holders should that team not qualify via its domestic league.
Man City win Champions League and finish fifth
The Premier League would have five teams in the Champions League. Fourth in the Premier League would still be in the final qualifying round. However, there would only be two Premier League teams in the Europa League -- the FA Cup winners to the group stage and sixth place to the third qualifying round.
Liverpool win Europa League, finish in Europa League places
The Premier League would have only two teams in the Europa League (and five in the Champions League) -- the FA Cup winners and the best-placed from the Premier League. It is also worth noting that the Europa League holders only go direct to the UCL group stage if the UCL title holders also qualify for that stage via the league.
Liverpool win Europa League, finish out of Europa League places
The Premier League would have three teams in the Europa League (and five in the Champions League) -- the FA Cup winners, Capital One Cup winners (Man City, so likely transferred to the Premier League) and the best-placed from Premier League.
Both Liverpool and Man City win, with City fourth
Premier League has five teams in the Champions League -- Liverpool and the top four in the league. The Premier League will have three teams in the Europa League unless Liverpool finish in a Europa League place in the league, then it is two as noted above.
Both Liverpool and Man City win, with City fifth
Premier League has five teams in the Champions League -- Liverpool, Man City and the top three in the league. Fourth in the Premier League goes into the Europa League group stage. The Premier League will have three teams in the Europa League unless Liverpool finish in a Europa League place in the league, then it is two as noted above.