Home of football statistics and historyThe 2020-21 Premier League season is heading into its final few weeks and there’s still plenty to be determined when it comes to next season’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Manchester United, Leicester City and Chelsea hold the strings heading into the weekend before each has a very tough test midweek and they are just days before the FA Cup final. Here’s how they could impact the top four places:
Manchester United vs Leicester City
Leicester City will head to Old Trafford off the back of embarrassing 2-4 loss at home to Newcastle United on Friday night with nerves as they don’t want to let slip of another big lead to finish outside the top four for a second consecutive season.
It was Manchester United that sneaked past the Foxes in the final weeks of last season and although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will have only played Aston Villa on Sunday, the Red Devils will be the favourites to win little more than 48 hours later. If you want to take advantage of the odds you can refer a friend on bet365 to share the enjoyment.
Defeat for Leicester in Manchester could see the drop out of the top four before they are next in league action, as they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium next Sunday.
Chelsea vs Arsenal
The fixture dates certainly favour Leicester this month as their FA Cup opponents are in action on Wednesday night for a London derby against Arsenal. Although the visitors to Stamford Bridge have little to play for themselves, out of top four contention and recently eliminated from the Europa League, they could at least play spoiler to their rivals.
Chelsea have to go to Manchester City over the weekend before hosting Mikel Arteta’s side as they look to hold onto their top four place with West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all looking to overtake them.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have only recently booked their place in the Champions League final at the end of the month too, so the German manager will be grateful he has a big squad to rotate for this huge month in the club’s history.
The only previous time the Blues won the Champions League was back in 2012, when they also changed manager mid-season. Can history repeat itself in 2021?
Manchester United vs Liverpool
Manchester United need four points from their final five Premier League games to confirm a top four finish and it may be even fewer than that with the chasing pack not in the best of form.
This game was interrupted in bizarre circumstances less than an hour before kickoff and has been rescheduled for Thursday, which will be the Red Devils’ third game in five days. Expect fatigue and little preparation to have a negative effect on Manchester United.
Jurgen Klopp’s defending Premier League champions will have last played on Saturday night, hosting Southampton, meaning United play two more before this game at Old Trafford. Liverpool are desperate for three points to get back into the top four battle, and should be capable of taking them given the circumstances.
Aston Villa vs Everton
Everton have a couple of big games coming up as Carlo Ancelotti looks to lead the Merseyside club back into Europe.
Starting with West Ham United over the weekend, the Toffees then travel to Aston Villa on Thursday evening. Six points would be huge, particularly with West Ham six points above them.
Everton also have a game or two in hand on the majority of teams above them and sitting in eighth gives them a good chance of qualifying for Europe.
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