Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea are battling for three spots in next season’s Champions League over the final weeks of the Premier League season
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has lost just once in his first 10 games
Manchester United are favourites to secure Champions League football next season as the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top five continues.
The Reds have lost just one of their 10 games under Michael Carrick and have climbed to third in the standings. With the top five all but certain to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League and Arsenal and Manchester City poised to take the top two spots, the race is on for who will join them.
United are well placed while Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool are the nearest challengers and at least one of those sides will miss out – unless the latter win’s this season’s Champions League. Everton are mounting a late charge while Brentford and Fulham cannot be discounted as we head into the final weeks of the campaign.
We’ve asked writers covering the four teams at the forefront of the challenge for their verdicts.
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Tyrone Marshall
Manchester United Writer (Manchester Evening News)
I have United finishing third. They are in the best form of the sides challenging for the top six and also a schedule that allows them plenty of rest. They have enough going for them to think they will continue as they have been under Carrick and get the job done for third.
The real storyline is what happens in fourth and fifth. I’ve long had Aston Villa bookmarked for sixth. They have relied on fortune a fair bit this season, especially with goals from distance, have tailed off at the wrong time and now have to factor in a Europa League run that could take them all the way.
But their win last time out stabilised their form and there are just so many questions around Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool have been unconvincing for so long, but do seem capable of picking up wins here and there.
Chelsea feel like the crisis club now. You get the impression the players just aren’t having Liam Rosenior, and who can blame them, frankly. I’m going to go Liverpool in fourth, Villa in fifth, and Chelsea to just hang on to sixth.
Ian Doyle
Liverpool FC writer (Liverpool Echo)
The battle for the Champions League places may look exciting but in reality it isn’t. In fact, come the final analysis it will be down to who is the least worst given this is by some distance one of the worst Premier League seasons in history.
The lack of European football and an eagerness to exit the domestic cup competitions at the earliest opportunity have made United nailed on to finish third for several months, although they will find next season a bit of an eye-opener no matter who ends up being in charge.
Aston Villa wobbled a lot during the early months of this year and could still be distracted by the Europa League, but probably have just enough of a gap to hang on to fourth place.
That leaves Liverpool and Chelsea to battle it out for fifth, which will most likely be determined by their meeting at Anfield in May. If it’s in keeping with this dreary campaign, expect a low-quality slog in which somebody wins against the run of play with a scrappy goal from a corner. Who that ends up being is anybody’s guess.
Steven Railston
Manchester United Writer (Manchester Evening News)
Carrick’s impact at Old Trafford has been impressive and I have United down to finish third, with some reasonable looking fixtures still left to play. It’s going to be close between Liverpool and Aston Villa for fourth, but the latter bottled the Champions League on the last day of last season, and I could see them doing it again.
Many have questioned the timing of Salah’s announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, however, it’s the kind of news that could spur their dressing room on to give him a positive send-off.
Rosenior’s time at Chelsea is already threatening to turn sour and I have them down to finish sixth. Rosenior talks as if he should be in an episode of The Office, not a top Premier League job.
Ryan Taylor
Football Writer (Football.London)
United must be considered heavy favourites to wrap up third-spot. Aston Villa have regained their composure but their squad depth will be tested throughout the run-in particularly as they juggle Europa League commitments.
They’ve really missed Youri Tielemans and John McGinn but once they’re both back fit and sharp, they have it within them to get themselves over the line and into the top five.
Picking between Liverpool and Chelsea for fifth spot is a difficult task because both blow hot and cold. Liverpool have to travel to United, Villa and host Chelsea and on current form, it’s hard to see them putting together a string of good results.
Their squad is remarkably light and they will throw everything at PSG in their Champions League quarter-final. Chelsea’s biggest issue is the squad is struggling to acclimatise to Liam Rosenior’s methods despite a promising start.
For that reason, Everton and Brentford can’t be discounted from springing a surprise and gate-crashing the party.
John Townley
Aston Villa writer (Birmingham Live)
The race for Champions League football looks set to go down to the wire, and some of the details in each club’s fixture lists are fascinating. Starting with Man United, they will likely secure a top five finish, given that they already hold a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Chelsea and have no other distractions aside from league duties.
Their home form under Carrick has been excellent, winning all five games he has taken charge of this season. They could take a strong haul from upcoming games against Leeds, Brentford, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest.
Villa’s dip in form after the New Year was largely due to missing three key players – all in the same area of the pitch: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, and captain John McGinn.
Since McGinn’s return, Villa have won three of their last four matches and will be hoping to take points from their next five games against Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), and Burnley (A), before finishing the season with matches against Liverpool and Man City.
Villa will want to secure a top five finish before the final two games, as they could have a Europa League final to prepare for in the midst of those challenging closing fixtures.
Chelsea and Liverpool are the teams immediately beneath Villa. They face each other at Anfield in the third-to-last gameweek of the season, when Villa head to Burnley. Liverpool need to take at least seven points from games against Fulham (H), Everton (A), and Crystal Palace (H) before facing Man United (A), Chelsea (H), and Villa (A).
Chelsea could fall behind Villa and Man United if they fail to win any of their first three games after the break – against Man City (H), United (H), and Brighton (A).
Jack Flintham
Football Writer (Manchester Evening News)
United should finish third comfortably. Carrick deserves plenty of recognition for the job he has done and with Liverpool and Aston Villa contesting in Europe, the Reds should capitalise.
Speaking of their nearest challengers, I think Liverpool will put up a challenge but Villa should hold onto fourth. I have not seen enough from Arne Slot’s side to suggest they can be consistent enough to close the gap, even if Villa offer up opportunities. That being said, they will finish fifth and still probably secure Champions League football.
My wildcard pick would be for Everton to finish sixth. Things are turning sour at Chelsea and after being thumped on Merseyside before the international break, I can’t see them holding onto sixth.
David Moyes’ side must rectify their home form but if they can replicate the Chelsea performance against Liverpool, that momentum will see them through to an impressive finish.