Liverpool run-in compared to rivals as top four hopes sparked by Leeds thrashing
With the top two all but guaranteed a Champions League adventure next season, the final two spots are still entirely up for contention.
Manchester United and Newcastle are currently in charge of their own destiny as they round up the top four with a game in hand on the two teams directly below them, Tottenham and in-form Aston Villa, who are three and six points shy respectively of the Magpies’ 56.
Brighton are in seventh with two games in hand on both Spurs and Villa, but would leapfrog both if they can use their additional fixtures to their advantage. Liverpool can also close the gap with an extra matches, but the nine points they have to make up on Newcastle mean it is an uphill battle for the Reds despite their 6-1 thrashing of Leeds on Monday night.
It isn't impossible though, given the nature of the chase that is unfolding, and the fallibilities of the teams involved.
Unai Emery’s Villa put in a masterclass against Newcastle on Saturday, sending the Geordies back to Tyneside with a 3-0 defeat and adding a massive boost to their own European aspirations. Dango Outtara’s late winner for Bournemouth denied Spurs what may prove to be a crucial point later on that day ahead of their trip to St. James Park this Sunday.
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With each side having less than ten to play, here is a closer look at the battle for that coveted top four spot.
Manchester United
The side in pole position to land one of the final two spots, Erik Ten Hag’s side have competed on all fronts this season. With a Carabao Cup already in the cabinet, the Red Devils have an FA Cup semi-final to contend with, and they will be at the same stage in the Europa League with a win against Sevilla in the quarter-final second leg on Thursday.
With fixtures set to come thick and fast, United have lost centre-back pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez through injury at a crucial point in their season. Varane is expected to be out for a few weeks, but
Man Utd ran out 2-0 winners away at Nottingham Forest (Getty Images)Varane may miss games against three of their rivals for the top four - all coming over the space of a week. Firstly, a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday, followed by an Aston Villa visit to Old Trafford, and finally another trip down south on a Thursday to play Brighton.
Picking up points in all three games, and denying their opponents the three in the process, would all but solidify United’s spot in the top four. Aside from those, they have two home fixtures, against Wolves and Fulham, and two away matches, against West Ham then Bournemouth.
The Cottagers will be looking for revenge for their FA Cup exit when they play at Old Trafford on the final day, with Aleksandar Mitrovic returning from his eight-game ban at the perfect time.
Newcastle United
Newcastle's hopes of a top-four finish took a hit after losing to Aston Villa (Getty Images)“It was a disappointing day we have to analyse, but then we need to move on quite quickly because at this stage of the season, with so few games to go, you really want to focus on what’s ahead not what’s gone.”
Those were the words of Eddie Howe after his Newcastle side’s five-game winning run came to a juddering halt at the hands of Aston Villa last weekend. And there is no time to drown their sorrows ahead of another pivotal clash in the race for a top-four berth.
This time the hosts of the big game, the Geordies will accommodate Tottenham in a game that may have huge ramifications come the end of the season. It is one of four remaining home games for Newcastle, with league leaders Arsenal yet to make the trip north along with Leicester and Southampton.
Their three remaining away trips are to teams in the bottom half of the league. Relegation threatened Leeds and Everton will put up a fight as they find themselves in a race at the wrong end of the table. On the final day of the season a trip to the capital beckons, where mid-table Chelsea will be looking to put this campaign to forget behind them.
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Tottenham
Four of Tottenham’s next five games come against sides who will be competing for the top four, three of them coming within seven days of each other starting this Sunday with a trip to Newcastle.
It doesn't get easier for Cristian Stellini’s side with a Thursday night visit from Manchester United, followed by a journey to Anfield coming on the Sunday. They host near-neighbours Crystal Palace and Brentford either side of a trip to Villa Park on May 13.
The Brentford game will be Spurs’ last home game of the season as Elland Road is the venue for the final day. It may be all to play for for both sides, as Leeds continue to fight to stay in the Premier League.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa thrashed Newcastle to keep their own hopes of a European finish in tact (2023 Newcastle United)This would no doubt be the story of the season. Unai Emery has worked wonders to transform an Aston Villa side that seemed destined for an unremarkable season under Steven Gerrard into a genuine threat to the elite.
Speaking after their dominant win against Newcastle, Emery admitted it would be “very difficult” to finish in the top four, and some tough fixtures in their run-in prove his point.
There are trips to both Old Trafford and Anfield to contend with, as well as Spurs and Brighton - who they play on the final day. The Villans have already proven they can kill sides off in emphatic fashion, which will add confidence going into these fixtures for a side looking to extend their eight-game unbeaten run.
They also have to face Brentford and Fulham in the coming weeks, with both looking up the table and aiming for a finish in the top seven, as well as a trip to Molineux to play Wolves on May 6.
Brighton
The Seagulls are flying (pun intended) and playing some great football thanks to manager Roberto De Zerbi in a remarkable success story after losing three key players in Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma and Leandro Trossard.
Speaking after the victory over Chelsea at the weekend, De Zerbi said the result will give his Brighton side “belief for the run-in”, which includes an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday.
They are also yet to host the Red Devils in the league, or to make a trip to the Emirates. With both of those fixtures set to be scheduled in the first two weeks of May. Brighton are still waiting to find out when they are hosting Manchester City - which was meant to be played this weekend, but due to both sides cup commitments it will be pushed back.
Brighton have played the least matches in the league, with nine still to play. Including those mentioned above, they have five home games left - with the additional three being Wolves, Everton and Southampton. They also have a midweek trip to Nottingham Forest before the month is over, and will play at Villa Park on the last day of the season.
Liverpool beat Leeds 6-1 to keep their slender top four hopes aliveLiverpool
Down but not out, Liverpool are an outside shout at entering the spots that would secure them a place in the competition they have won six times - but it won’t be easy.
Currently nine points behind Newcastle with a game in hand, it would take a monumental effort from Jurgen Klopp’s side to finish in the top four, but they showed the quality they clearly possess in Monday night's 6-1 hammering of Leeds.
Liverpool do arguably have the ‘easiest’ remaining fixtures of all those on this list with only two of the top-four contenders remaining, and both at home as they host Spurs and Villa.
The lift of the Anfield atmosphere was on clear display in Liverpool’s 2-2 comeback against Arsenal and they have three other home games against Forest, Fulham and Brentford. They have three remaining away days, with journeys to West Ham, Leicester and Southampton rounding out their season.
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