MANCHESTER UNITED have been tipped to agonisingly miss out on the top eight of the Champions League league phase.

But three Premier League sides are backed to avoid the dreaded extra play-off round.

Hull City v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27Man Utd have been tipped to agonisingly miss out on a top eight spot Credit: Getty Hull City v Manchester United, Premier League Football, Football, MKM Stadium, Hull, UK - 22 Aug 2026Michael Carrick is set for his first full Champions League campaign as boss Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

This year’s was conducted by Uefa bigwigs in Monaco, with Man Utd landing the likes of and .

Boffins and brainiacs over at Football Ranked have crunched the numbers to predict the outcome.

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And they reckon that United will finish NINTH – one place outside the much-coveted top eight that secures comfortable passage straight to the round of 16.

In addition to Bayern and Atleti, ‘s men will also take on Sporting CP, , , , Como and Sabah.

Football Ranked projects the Red Devils to earn 14.1 points from these matches… only enough to finish ninth.

In both seasons since the was revamped, it has required 16 points to finish top eight.

If United do come ninth, they will be drawn in a play-off against either the team that places 23rd or 24th.

In Football Ranked’s simulation, this would mean a two-legged dust-up with either Lens or Lille – guaranteeing a trip to France’s North East.

, following a turbulent summer to say the least, are still tipped to come 10th.

This would see them take on the other of Lens or Lille.

The other three English clubs are all backed to secure safe progression.

, who have to come, place second on 17.6 xPoints – only behind the German giants.

Arsenal FC v Coventry City - Premier League 2026/27Arsenal are backed for safe progression in second Credit: Getty Brighton and Hove, UK. 23rd Aug, 2026. Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa and Victor Lindelof of Aston Villa dejected during the Brighton and Hove Albion vs Aston Villa Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton and Hove. Picture credit should reAston Villa are predicted to finish 10th in the League Phase Credit: Alamy

Two-time reigning champions are third, ahead of in fourth on 16.9 xPoints.

Then come Real Madrid and – before Liverpool in seventh and in eighth.

Big sides to miss out on the top eight include; , and Atletico Madrid, who are all the way down in 19th.

The clubs to be eliminated for good include Spanish sides and Villarreal, Istanbul giants and and Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk, who will be .