The Premier League top-four race is heating up, and the margin for error is shrinking fast. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are separated by just a handful of points, and with 13 games left to play, every fixture now feels decisive.
After contrasting results at the weekend, attention quickly turns to what lies ahead. A closer look at each club’s next five Premier League matches offers a strong indication of who could gain ground – and who may be left chasing.
| Man Utd (4th – 44 Points) | Chelsea (5th – 43 Points) | Liverpool (6th – 39 Points) |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham vs Man Utd – 10 Feb | Chelsea vs Leeds United – 10 Feb | Sunderland vs Liverpool- 11 Feb |
| Everton vs Man Utd – 23 Feb | Chelsea vs Burnley – 21 Feb | Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool – 22 Feb |
| Man Utd vs Crystal Palace – 1 Mar | Arsenal vs Chelsea – 1 Mar | Liverpool vs West Ham – 28 Feb |
| Newcastle vs Man Utd – 4 Mar | Aston Villa vs Chelsea – 4 Mar | Wolves vs Liverpool – 3 Mar |
| Man Utd vs Aston Villa – 15 Mar | Chelsea vs Newcastle – 14 Mar | Liverpool vs Tottenham – 15 Mar |
Manchester United: Momentum Meets a Tricky Run
Manchester United sit fourth after making it four straight league wins under Michael Carrick, capped by a confident 2-0 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford. Confidence is building, but the fixture list offers no easy ride.
Trips to West Ham, Everton and Newcastle will test United’s away form, while home games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa could prove pivotal. Villa, in particular, stand out as a potential swing fixture in the race.
United’s recent form suggests they are capable of navigating this run, but maintaining consistency on the road will be key if they are to stay inside the top four.
If there’s just ONE top-four spot left…
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Who sneaks in – United, Chelsea or Liverpool? ? pic.twitter.com/3b7n1tHhzc
Chelsea: The Toughest Schedule of the Three
Chelsea’s form under Liam Rosenior has been impressive, highlighted by a dominant 3-1 win over Wolves, but their upcoming fixtures look the most demanding on paper.
Trips to face Arsenal and Aston Villa come in quick succession, while Newcastle visit Stamford Bridge shortly after. Chelsea have struggled against the Magpies in recent meetings, and those clashes could be decisive.
Home games against Burnley and Leeds United offer opportunities to bank points, but Leeds’ previous win over Chelsea this season ensures nothing can be taken for granted. If Chelsea emerge from this run still in contention, they will have earned it the hard way.
Liverpool: A Chance to Close the Gap
Liverpool may be sixth, but their next five fixtures arguably offer the clearest route back into the top-four conversation. Four of those matches come against bottom-half opposition, including Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves.
The standout test is away to Sunderland on Wednesday, a side that has already shown they can trouble bigger teams this season. Spurs also await later in the run, but overall, Liverpool’s schedule presents an opportunity to recover from their defeat to Manchester City.
With points to make up, this stretch could define whether Liverpool remain genuine contenders or fall further behind.
Who Blinks First?
With just one or two Champions League places realistically available, the pressure is now relentless. Liverpool may have the kinder run, Chelsea the toughest, and Manchester United the momentum – but the table will not wait.
The next few weeks could decide who stays in the Champions League picture and who is left watching from the outside next season.
