Let us look at the three fixtures from the remaining nine games that could seal Manchester United’s fate in the top four race:
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Manchester United are set to end another season without a trophy, but their campaign is far from over. The Red Devils can still salvage something from an otherwise disappointing season. Currently, United are on 50 points from 29 Premier League games and are four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, and one point behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. With every passing week, their top four chances are looking slim. However, there are still nine games for United to play this campaign and anything can happen in that time.
Let us look at the three fixtures from the remaining nine games that could seal Manchester United’s fate in the top four race:
The Merseyside Reds are the most in-form team in the Premier League and arguably, in all of Europe. Jurgen Klopp’s side are in the form of their life, winning nine league matches in a row. Sitting second in the league table and a point behind Manchester City, Liverpool are still in contention for a trophy in every possible tournament they have played this season.
Not to mention that the Reds have already won the Carabao Cup trophy via a penalty shootout against Chelsea in the final. They will pose the biggest challenge for United in the remaining matches. Ralf Rangnick’s side have to win atleast 6-7 matches from the final nine games to have a chance of clinching a Champions League spot. Hence, they can afford to lose the game at Anfield but must win almost all of the others. Notably, the game against Liverpool will take place just three days before a crucial match against Arsenal. As a result, a loss at Anfield would be a poor preparation for their trip to Emirates Stadium to face the in-form Gunners.
READ MORE – How Ralf Rangnick can still help Man United qualify for top four in Premier League
The match against Thomas Tuchel’s side could mean everything or nothing, depending on how Manchester United perform in their previous matches. United face Chelsea in the last before game of the current season. It is still not clear whether Rangnick’s side will be in the race for a top four spot by then. But if they are in the hunt, then it does not get any more difficult than taking on a solid and well-drilled unit of Tuchel’s team.
United will play the Blues at Old Trafford, which might normally give them a slender advantage. However, this season, the Reds have struggled to assert their home superiority on the visiting teams. Hence, the match will be an evenly fought battle, and the result will be determined on who wants it more on that day. It goes without saying that this will be a tough challenge for the Red Devils.
This match will feel like a final for both teams, even more so for Manchester United. Fourth-placed Arsenal are four points ahead of the Reds and have a game in hand. Therefore, nothing less than three points in this fixture is a must for United to stay in the top four quest.
For Arsenal, on the other hand, they can afford to lose this match and still secure the top four spot. But they also have some difficult clashes in the remaining matches. Hence, avoiding a defeat in this fixture could very well do the trick for the Gunners. With the match being played at Emirates and the form Arsenal are in currently, this clash will be the ultimate challenge for Manchester United.
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