Wednesday 18 May 2016 06:56, UK
Manchester United's win over Bournemouth means Louis van Gaal's side finish fifth in the Premier League table, thereby qualifying directly for the group stage of next season's Europa League and avoiding an early start to their 2016/17 campaign.
The victory means that United will avoid having to enter the competition at the third qualifying round, which starts on July 28 - 16 days before the start of the Premier League season.
Instead, United will go straight into the main draw of the competition, with the group stage getting under way on September 15. Southampton, who finished sixth in the Premier League, have also qualified for the competition.
Should United go on to win the FA Cup final on Saturday, the final Europa League spot will transfer to seventh-placed side West Ham, who would enter the third qualifying round, whereas a victory for Palace would see Alan Pardew's side enter the group stage of the competition next season.
Should Manchester United win the FA Cup, Southampton will enter the competition at the group stage. If Palace win, the Saints will enter the third qualifying round stage.
United's 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in their rearranged match on Tuesday night saw them draw level on points with Manchester City in fourth, but City's vastly better goal difference means that Pep Guardiola will take over a side in the Champions League next season.
It will be the first time in Premier League history that United have qualified for the Europa League via their league position.
Van Gaal's side also played in the Europa League this season after crashing out of the Champions League group stage before Christmas. They were knocked out in the last-16 by Liverpool.
