Can Manchester United and Arsenal push their way into a Champions League spot?

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Whilst Chelsea have one hand firmly placed on the Premier League title with a seven-point lead at the top of the table, the real competition for places has been shaping up below them in the top four.

The battle for the Champions League spots is well and truly on between Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal as we enter the final seven matches of the season, and although nine points separate third and sixth respective games in hand mean we’re in for a dramatic finish to the year.

It’s Liverpool who currently lead the way, nine points ahead of Arsenal and six ahead of Manchester United – but both sides have played less games than Jurgen Klopp’s side, and if both teams win these then they could potentially draw level with the Reds and only be separated by goal difference.

With such an open race for the Champions League spots this season, The Boot Room has analysed each side’s run-in and assessed their chances of finishing inside the all-important top four.

Liverpool

Currently in pole position, with their fate firmly in their own hands, Liverpool arguably have one of the easiest run-ins out of any side in the top-six between now and the end of the season.

Not playing any of their rivals, Jurgen Klopp’s side’s toughest games will come against West Brom and Southampton; although both sides may have nothing to play for by the time they face the Reds.

Relegation-threatened Crystal Palace and West Ham are followed by Middlesbrough on the final day of the season, and although on paper these are the sort of games that Liverpool should be coasting through, it’s been well known this season that they’ve struggled to see off the bottom sides.

Four of their five Premier League defeats this season have come against teams that started the day in the relegation spots, and add a frustrating draw to basement boys Sunderland to the mix and it doesn’t quite look as easy a run-in as first thought, especially with teams fighting for their lives.

Yet with a six-match unbeaten run under their belt at present, momentum is with Liverpool and it’s this concept that could prove to be the difference between reaching the top four or missing out.

Manchester City

Two points adrift of Liverpool – but with a game in hand – are Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side, one of the Premier League’s in-form teams with only a single loss in their eleven previous matches.

After a drop in results during the busy festive period, the Citizens are building up a head of steam towards their sprint finish and aside from the huge Manchester derby that takes place towards the end of the month, City must be pleased with the teams they have to play in the remaining games.

Trips to Southampton and relegation-threatened Middlesbrough, along with a final day tie with comfortable mid-table side Watford, pose as matches that Guardiola’s side should really win.

Consecutive home fixtures against Crystal Palace and Leicester City could also prove pivotal in their final three matches, with the advantage of having the Etihad crowd behind them a big motivator.

The true test of their mental steel will come when they face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final and Manchester United in the space of four days; lose both of these and their season could begin to unravel in dramatic fashion, win both and Guardiola’s side are in line for a successful campaign.

Manchester United

Despite currently being on a 21-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, dating back to October, Manchester United have struggled to make up significant ground on their rivals above them.

Eleven wins and ten draws have kept Jose Mourinho’s side in the hunt but too many stalemates against bottom-half sides could prove to be costly, especially when considering their horrific run-in.

Trips to rivals Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham sandwich a home tie with leaders Chelsea, giving United the toughest final set of fixtures out of any other side pushing for a top four spot.

With a Europa League quarter-final double-header against Belgian side Anderlecht to come in the following weeks too, Mourinho’s side are in real danger of running themselves into the ground; during the course of April alone, United will have played nine fixtures in the space of just 29 days.

Should they then progress to the Europa League semi-finals, that’s another two fixtures – including travel across the continent – to add to the list, and fatigue from a long season could prove fatal.

Matches against a Burnley side that have been excellent at home, and a Crystal Palace and Swansea City side fighting for survival, do nothing to make the final eight games easier for United either.

With Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal all still to play again before the end of the season – including three of these matches away from Old Trafford – it could prove to be that United’s best of hope gaining a Champions League spot next season is through the Europa League.

Having said that, their top four fate is still in their own hands, and if they can go through these four tough matches and come out with ten points they will be in pole position for that European spot.

Arsenal

After their damaging loss to a rejuvenated Crystal Palace on Monday evening, Arsenal missed the chance to return to fifth place in the Premier League and now sit seven points adrift of the top four.

Since February Arsene Wenger’s side have been in freefall, losing five of their last eight league matches and only picking up seven points from a possible 24 on offer; the 3-0 humiliation at the hands of the Eagles was the fourth consecutive away match that the Gunners have conceded three.

With matches against Manchester United, Tottenham and a high-flying Everton side still to come, the Gunners are in real danger of missing out on Champions League football for the first time since the Premier League began in 1993 – and this could prove to be the fatal blow for Wenger’s future.

Trips to a disciplined Stoke City and strugglers Middlesbrough won’t be easy matches either, whilst both Leicester City and Sunderland have taken points from top six teams this year already.

Add to that an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City and Arsenal have a lot riding on the next six weeks of football; much like City, a loss in this and it could leave the Gunners devoid of confidence.

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