When Manchester United were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw away at Bournemouth on March 20th, it looked as though Michael Carrick’s men had dropped two massive points in the race for the top four. However, as the results came in over the rest of the weekend, the point suddenly looked like one gained, rather than the two lost initially.
Matchday 30 got off to the perfect start on the South Coast for United when Bruno Fernandes swept his side in front from the penalty spot. Not even Ryan Christie’s equaliser for the Cherries could dampen the spirits, because just four minutes later, the visitors were ahead again. However, with 12 minutes remaining, disaster struck.
Harry Maguire was judged to have fouled Evanilson and denied the Brazilian a clear goalscoring opportunity. He was given his marching orders, and Bournemouth were handed a penalty, one that Eli Junior Kroupi duly slotted away. From that point on, it looked as though United would head back north with nothing at all to show for their efforts. Still, they managed to cling on to a 2-2 draw, opening the door for their Premier League rivals to reel them in the race for Champions League qualification.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea Slip Up
Neither Liverpool nor Chelsea, however, were able to take advantage. The Reds also headed to the south coast, but Brighton beat them after a brace from veteran former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck. The Blues were then handed a drubbing away at Everton, slumping to a 3-0 defeat, which piled the pressure on manager Liam Rosenior. While Aston Villa did manage to pick up a 2-0 win at West Ham, United are now six points clear of Liverpool in sixth place, and a spot in next season’s Champions League seems well within grasp.
At least online betting sites think so. The popular Lucky Rebel platform currently lists Michael Carrick’s men as a short-priced 2/15 shot to finish in the top four this term. That six-point buffer to their Merseyside rivals could well prove to be insurmountable with just eight games to play.
But which teams represent the biggest tests for United between now and the end of the campaign? Could anyone stop their march back to the Champions League, or will it be plain sailing? Let’s take a look.
Chelsea (A)
Following the international break, United will welcome rivals Leeds to Old Trafford in what promises to be a difficult test in itself. The Yorkshire outfit always aims to impress when they head across the Pennines, and with them fighting for their Premier League lives at the foot of the table, they will certainly be aiming to head back to Elland Road with at least a point.
However, it’s the April 18th clash with Chelsea that will truly test just how far United have come under Carrick. The Blues have been struggling in recent weeks, losing each of their last four games. In fact, the last three of those defeats have come by three goals, with Paris Saint-Germain picking up a thumping 8-2 win across two legs in the Champions League, followed by that defeat against Everton. But even so, under pressure, manager Liam Rosenior knows that he will have to get a result against United if his side is to have any hope of securing a spot in next year’s UCL.
It’s been six long years since United last managed to beat Chelsea at the Bridge, with Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire on song in a 2-0 win back in February 2020. A similar result next month will strengthen the Red Devils’ stranglehold on a spot in the top four.
Liverpool (H)
A fortnight after that trip to the Bridge, another set of rivals will visit OT. This time, the big ones: Liverpool. And the clash between the two heavyweights will be a genuine six-pointer.
The Reds headed into the 2025/26 season as the defending champions, following their dominant title triumph last season. A £400m spending spree in the summer, headlined by the arrivals of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, reinforced Liverpool’s status as the title race favourites. Still, a disastrous campaign has seen them slide down the table. The recent 2-1 defeat away at Brighton left Arne Slot’s men in fifth place, six points behind United.
Liverpool are now without a win in their last three games, but expecting anything other than a difficult contest would be a mistake for Carrick and the Red Devils. United did manage to win at Anfield earlier this season, courtesy of Maguire’s late winner, their first win on the red half of Merseyside in a decade. Completing a league double over the Reds would surely secure United’s Champions League return. Fans will be watching eagerly to see if they can manage it.
