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Following a turbulent weekend at the summit of the Premier League, the competition for Champions League qualification is intensifying.
Liverpool joined Manchester City as the only sides currently in the top eight to secure all three points, dispatching Fulham a day before Pep Guardiola's men dealt a devastating blow to Chelsea's European ambitions.
What would typically be a battle for the top four has become a fight for the top five this campaign, after English clubs' strong performances in Europe earned them an additional Champions League berth.
Chelsea find themselves on the outside looking in at the current standings, though a series of blockbuster fixtures over the coming six weeks will largely determine how the table ultimately shapes up.
Man Utd, Aston Villa, Liverpool & Chelsea's Fixtures Compared
Man Utd (55 points) | Aston Villa (55 points) | Liverpool (52 points) | Chelsea (48 points) |
|---|---|---|---|
Chelsea (A) – April 18 | Sunderland (H) – April 19 | Everton (A) – April 19 | Man Utd (H) – April 18 |
Brentford (H) – April 27 | Fulham (A) – April 25 | Crystal Palace (H) – April 25 | Brighton (A) – April 21 |
Liverpool (H) – May 3 | Tottenham (H) – May 2 | Man Utd (A) – May 3 | Nott'm Forest – May 4 |
Sunderland (A) – May 9 | Burnley (A) – May 9 | 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 25 |
Intriguingly, these four clubs meet each other on several occasions during the remaining weeks of the campaign, meaning no side can be written off at this stage.
That is especially encouraging news for Chelsea, who will regard Saturday's home clash against United as an absolute necessity to win.
Even if the Blues suffer defeat to United in their next outing, a compelling trip to Anfield to face Liverpool awaits on May 9. Just four points separate the two clubs at present, and neither can be expected to maintain a flawless run of results leading up to that encounter, leaving the door ajar for Chelsea with a potential win.
May will prove a pivotal month for Liverpool, who begin with an away fixture at United and, following their clash with Chelsea, must also contend with a visit to Aston Villa. Three wins would likely secure a Champions League place for Arne Slot's squad, but three losses could just as easily produce the opposite outcome.
For Aston Villa, the schedule is relatively favourable over the next four matches. Unai Emery's squad will fancy their chances against Sunderland, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, aiming to establish a comfortable buffer before the fixture difficulty increases.
Not only must Villa host Liverpool on the penultimate matchday, but they also close the season away at Manchester City in a contest that is extremely difficult to call. Given the current title race dynamics, it could be a must-win for the Cityzens, though if their hopes of catching Arsenal have already faded by then, minds may already be elsewhere when Villa arrive.
United, meanwhile, will be well aware that their European hopes likely depend on the next three fixtures. The Red Devils are already well-placed, and a win over Chelsea would effectively guarantee a Champions League spot, given the gap to the Blues would stretch to a substantial 10 points.
A home encounter with Brentford on April 27 looks challenging, coming just one week before Liverpool visit Old Trafford. Any recurrence of the display that proved costly against Leeds on Monday could be catastrophic at this advanced stage of the season.
The reality is that United, Villa and Liverpool all hold their own fate in their hands. Chelsea remain the only side still requiring help from elsewhere, but given they have the opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool by three points in May, any stumble by the Reds before or after that meeting could blow the race wide open.