Manchester United are at risk of failing to achieve two objectives

After Manchester United posted a fourth successive Premier League victory with a 2-1 triumph over Luton Town on February 18, the conversation was all about their Champions League hopes being resurrected.

United, who were sixth at the time, had closed the gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa to five points and confidence was high. A clash with Fulham at Old Trafford the following weekend was an appealing opportunity to get another three points on the board.

However, United fell to a first defeat of 2024, losing 2-1, and they have struggled to ever recover from that result. Monday night's 4-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace marked a fourth defeat in their last 10 league outings - a run which has seen them win just twice.

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As a result, United now find themselves 13 points behind Villa, who are almost home and hosed in the final Champions League spot. United are now facing an uphill struggle to secure Europa League qualification.

The defeat at Palace has left Erik ten Hag's side two points shy of sixth-placed Newcastle United, who are currently in the driving seat to secure a second Europa League berth. United have also been overtaken by Chelsea, who now occupy seventh ahead of United on goal difference.

When United beat Luton, nine points and four places separated the two clubs. United's dreadful run of form has opened the door for Chelsea to make an unexpected surge for European qualification.

Chelsea hit West Ham United for five while Newcastle made light work of Burnley, winning 4-1. Those two have discovered their mojo at just the right time.

With three league games left, one of which is against Newcastle at Old Trafford next Wednesday night, United are in danger of missing out on European qualification via their Premier League finishing position. Fifth will secure a Europa League spot and the side that finishes sixth will qualify for the Conference League.

However, because of the fact United are playing Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley later this month and the prize for the winner is a place in next season's Europa League, the Reds have a second chance to qualify for the next best European competition on offer. The fact United must get the better of City to make that achievement possible, however, loads more pressure on their hopes of winning the competition.

City are mathematically assured of Champions League qualification, meaning if they win the FA Cup the Europa League spot they would have been rewarded with will be passed down to the sixth-best Premier League side, with the club that then finishes seventh going into the Conference League. United, as things stand, will not qualify for either unless they beat City. That in itself loads more pressure onto the importance of the clash with Pep Guardiola's side.

It was not all that long ago that United pinpointed the FA Cup final as an opportunity to save their season by winning a trophy after a campaign of regression. Now, however, they may have to win it to save this season and save next season as well, such are the financial implications that a year without European participation will bring.

As well as that, beating City could be Ten Hag's last chance to prove to Ineos that he is still the right man to lead the club forward next summer and oversee a major rebuild in the summer. Ten Hag is under increasing pressure and it is becoming harder and harder to make a case for him to stay.

United must navigate their way through three tricky league fixtures before their focus switches to Wembley, facing Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion in the space of eight days. Those three clubs have already beaten United four times this season in league and cup.

City will head into the FA Cup final as overwhelming favourites and it would take something special from United to stop them from potentially winning a double on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Reds' 1999 treble-winning campaign.

United's European qualification hopes, as far as the Premier League is concerned, are now out of their own hands, meaning they are under immense pressure to salvage this season and next season. If they end this season with a whimper, Ten Hag's hopes of retaining his position as manager could be as good as over and European football will be missing from next year's menu.