Chelsea crisis, Man Utd boost and Liverpool fight in Premier League top-five race

Manchester United are favourites to secure Champions League football as they sit third under Michael Carrick, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa battle for the remaining top-five spots

Manchester United are frontrunners to qualify for Champions League football next term as the contest for a Premier League top-five finish intensifies.

For the second year in a row, it is all but certain that the top five teams in the Premier League will qualify for next season's Champions League. This is thanks to UEFA's coefficient table, with the two nations which perform best across the three European club competitions handed European Performance Spots (EPS) by UEFA.

With the top five virtually guaranteed Champions League participation next season and Arsenal and Manchester City expected to occupy the leading two positions, the competition is heating up for who will accompany them.

United are well positioned while Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool represent their closest rivals, with at least one of these clubs set to miss out – barring a Champions League triumph for the latter this campaign. Everton are staging a determined late push while Brentford and Fulham remain in contention as the season approaches its conclusion.

We've consulted journalists following the four clubs at the heart of this battle for their assessments.

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Tyrone Marshall

Manchester United Writer (Manchester Evening News)

I expect United to finish third. They're enjoying the strongest form amongst the sides vying for the top six and also benefit from a fixture list that affords them adequate recovery time. They possess sufficient momentum to suggest they'll maintain their trajectory under Carrick and secure third place. The real story lies in what unfolds in fourth and fifth. I've long earmarked Aston Villa for sixth place. They've benefited from good fortune this season, particularly with long-range strikes, have faltered at a crucial juncture and must now contend with a Europa League campaign that could potentially go the distance.

However, their victory last time out steadied their form, and there are simply too many question marks surrounding Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool have been unconvincing for an extended period, yet do appear capable of securing wins sporadically.

Chelsea now feel like the crisis club. The impression is that the players simply aren't buying into Liam Rosenior, and who could fault them, quite frankly. I'm backing Liverpool for fourth, Villa for fifth, and Chelsea to narrowly cling on to sixth.

Ian Doyle

Liverpool FC writer (Liverpool Echo)

The battle for Champions League qualification may appear thrilling, but in reality it isn't. Indeed, when all is said and done, it will come down to who performs least badly, given this is comfortably one of the weakest Premier League campaigns in history.

The absence of European commitments and a willingness to exit the domestic cup competitions at the earliest opportunity have made United certainties to finish third for several months, though they'll find next season rather sobering regardless of who ultimately takes charge. Aston Villa struggled considerably during the early part of this year and could yet be distracted by their Europa League commitments, but likely possess just enough of a cushion to hold on to fourth place.

That leaves Liverpool and Chelsea to scrap it out for fifth, a battle that will almost certainly be decided by their encounter at Anfield in May. If it follows the pattern of this underwhelming campaign, brace yourself for a turgid affair in which someone nicks it against the run of play with a scrappy corner goal. Who that turns out to be is anyone's guess.

Steven Railston

Manchester United Writer (Manchester Evening News)

Carrick's influence at Old Trafford has been remarkable and I have United pencilled in to finish third, with some favourable-looking fixtures still to come. It'll be tight between Liverpool and Aston Villa for fourth, but the latter bottled the Champions League on the final day of last season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see history repeat itself.

Many have questioned the timing of Salah's announcement that he will depart Liverpool at the end of the season, yet it's precisely the sort of news that could galvanise their dressing room into giving him a fitting farewell.

Rosenior's tenure at Chelsea is already in danger of turning sour and I have them finishing sixth. Rosenior speaks as though he belongs in an episode of The Office, rather than occupying one of the top jobs in the Premier League.

Ryan Taylor

Football Writer (Football.London)

United must be considered strong favourites to secure third place. Aston Villa have rediscovered their footing, but their squad depth will be put to the test during the run-in, particularly as they balance Europa League commitments.

They have sorely missed Youri Tielemans and John McGinn, but once both return to full fitness and sharpness, they have the capability to push themselves over the line and into the top five.

Choosing between Liverpool and Chelsea for fifth place is no straightforward task, as both sides blow hot and cold. Liverpool face trips to United and Villa, as well as hosting Chelsea, and on current form, it's difficult to envisage them stringing together a run of positive results.

Their squad is remarkably thin and they will throw everything at PSG in their Champions League quarter-final. Chelsea's primary concern is that the squad is struggling to adapt to Liam Rosenior's methods, despite a promising beginning.

For that reason, Everton and Brentford cannot be ruled out from causing an upset and gatecrashing the party.

John Townley

Aston Villa writer (Birmingham Live)

The battle for Champions League football looks destined to go to the wire, and some of the nuances within each club's fixture lists make for fascinating reading. Beginning with Man United, they will likely secure a top-five finish, given their seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea and the absence of any other distractions beyond league duties. Their home record under Carrick has been impressive, winning all five matches he has overseen this season. They could pick up a healthy points tally from forthcoming fixtures against Leeds, Brentford, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest.

Villa's dip in form following the New Year was largely attributed to the absence of three pivotal players - all operating in the same area of the pitch: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, and captain John McGinn.

Since McGinn's return to the side, Villa have claimed victory in three of their last four outings and will be eager to take points from their next five fixtures against Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), and Burnley (A), before rounding off the campaign with clashes against Liverpool and Man City.

Villa will be keen to secure a top-five finish before those final two matches, as they could have a Europa League final to contend with amid those demanding closing fixtures.

Chelsea and Liverpool are the sides immediately below Villa in the table. The two clubs meet at Anfield in the third-to-last gameweek of the season, when Villa travel to Burnley. Liverpool need to accumulate at least seven points from matches against Fulham (H), Everton (A), and Crystal Palace (H) before facing Man United (A), Chelsea (H), and Villa (A).

Chelsea risk falling behind Villa and Man United should they fail to win any of their first three post-break fixtures - against Man City (H), United (H), and Brighton (A).

Jack Flintham

Football Writer (Manchester Evening News)

United should comfortably secure third place. Carrick deserves considerable credit for the work he has put in, and with Liverpool and Aston Villa occupied in European competition, the Reds should take full advantage.

As for their closest rivals, Liverpool will mount a challenge, but Villa should hold firm in fourth. Arne Slot's side have yet to demonstrate the consistency required to close the gap, even if Villa present opportunities. Nevertheless, they will finish fifth and in all likelihood still qualify for Champions League football.

My wildcard selection would be Everton to finish sixth. The mood is souring at Chelsea and, following their heavy defeat on Merseyside before the international break, it is difficult to envisage them clinging onto sixth place.

David Moyes' side must address their poor home form, but if they can replicate the kind of performance they produced against Liverpool, that momentum could carry them to a thoroughly impressive finish.

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