A handful of tantalizing fixtures over the subsequent month may make all of the distinction for Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea within the struggle for Champions League qualification.
The Red Devils obtained again to successful methods on Saturday with a 1–0 victory over Chelsea to go 10 factors away from Liam Rosenior’s males, who stay in sixth place—solely adequate for the Europa League.
The Blues have only one win of their final eight league matches, leaving the door open for Aston Villa and Liverpool to maintain gaining floor within the race for the highest 5. What is now a four-point hole between Chelsea and the fifth-place Reds may improve to seven inside 24 hours, a nightmare situation for the defending Club World Cup champions.
The season is much from over, although, and a important stretch of matches over the subsequent month may present a chaotic ending to an unexpectedly thrilling battle for the remaining Champions League locations.
Man Utd, Aston Villa, Liverpool & Chelsea’s Fixtures Compared
Man Utd (58 factors) | Aston Villa (55 factors) | Liverpool (52 factors) | Chelsea (48 factors) |
|---|---|---|---|
– | Sunderland (H) – April 19 | Everton (A) – April 19 | – |
Brentford (H) – April 27 | Fulham (A) – April 25 | Crystal Palace (H) – April 25 | Brighton (A) – April 21 |
Liverpool (H) – May 3 | Tottenham (H) – May 3 | Man Utd (A) – May 3 | Nott’m Forest – May 4 |
Sunderland (A) – May 9 | Burnley (A) – May 10 | Chelsea (H) – May 9 | Liverpool (A) – May 9 |
Nott’m Forest (H) – May 17 | Liverpool (H) – May 17 | Aston Villa (A) – May 17 | Tottenham (H) – May 17 |
Brighton (A) – May 24 | Man City (A) – May 24 | Brentford (H) – May 24 | Sunderland (A) – May 24 |
United return house to tackle Brentford subsequent trip earlier than welcoming Liverpool to Old Trafford. Three factors in opposition to Slot’s males would give the Red Devils some respiration room forward of the Reds, who may out of the blue solely be three factors behind with a win over Everton on Sunday.
A visit to the Stadium of Light beckons earlier than United face off with relegation-battling Nottingham Forest of their ultimate house match of the season. By the time they tackle Brighton, Carrick’s males ought to have already got their spot within the Champions League wrapped up.
Aston Villa’s involvement within the title race is nothing greater than a distant reminiscence, however they nonetheless are on tempo to match their greatest end of the twenty first century … as long as they deal with enterprise in opposition to groups they need to beat, like Sunderland and Fulham.
The development continues into May, when Unai Emery’s facet conflict with a woeful Tottenham Hotspur outfit after which relegation-bound Burnley. Positive outcomes in opposition to the 4 opponents are key, contemplating the Villans finish their season in opposition to Liverpool after which away at City.
Even if they don’t want three factors to make sure Champions League qualification come their journey to the Etihad, Aston Villa may nonetheless be on the heart of a must-see battle on the ultimate matchday ought to the Premier League title hinge on the result.
Liverpool, in the meantime, are beneath far more strain to maintain maintain of the ultimate spot within the prime 5. An all the time difficult Merseyside derby awaits—the primary on the Hill Dickinson Stadium—adopted by a difficult battle with Crystal Palace, a staff they’ve overwhelmed simply as soon as of their final six conferences.
The fixtures solely get harder for the defending English champions. Next up is a visit to Old Trafford earlier than Liverpool host Chelsea six days later. To make issues worse, the Reds should then journey to Villa Park, a spot they haven’t received at in 4 years.
Brentford of their ultimate match of the season are a welcome reprieve on paper, however the Bees already bested Slot’s males within the reverse fixture. Things may get very nervy if Liverpool want a win to make sure their place in Europe’s premier membership competitors subsequent season.
On the skin trying in are Chelsea. The Blues must win almost all of their remaining fixtures, beginning with Brighton and Nottingham Forest, to have even a hope of sneaking into the highest 5.
The greatest match left on their calendar is Liverpool away. Taking three factors off the Reds would make up large floor for Rosenior’s males, particularly since their opponents have the harder stretch of matches to complete out the season.
The west London outfit, in the meantime, finishes off 2025–26 in opposition to Spurs after which Sunderland. A determined Tottenham assembly a determined Chelsea guarantees fireworks at Stamford Bridge.
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