The race to the finish line at the end of another action-packed Premier League campaign is almost upon us.
With the title all but sealed and two of the three relegation places decided, it is the battle to finish in the top-four that will be attracting the most attention over the next couple of weeks.
At the time of writing, Manchester City sit top of the pile on 80 points, cross-city rivals Manchester United are in second spot with 70 points to their name, Chelsea are locked in third on 64 points and Leicester are holding onto the final top-four berth with 63 points.
However, West Ham United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are still alive and kicking in the race to gatecrash the top-four before the season reaches its conclusion, meaning there is likely to be one or two more twists and turns before the finish line is crossed.
For Chelsea, up until their 2-1 over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the priority for them was securing a top-four finish. But considering just how well they are performing at this moment in time, they will fancy their chances of putting a late run together to finish second in the table.
However, Manchester United will have a major say in that, as they, unlike Chelsea and Leicester, have four games left, opposed to the three the Blues and Foxes have.
The first of United's four games left is tomorrow evening at Old Trafford when they will host Leicester in what could be a defining contest.
Looking beyond that, though, there is sure to be more twists and turns in the tale. With that said, football.london has taken a close look at the remaining fixtures the runners and riders have in comparison to United in the race for a top-four finish.
Man United's fixtures:
May 11: Leicester City (H)
May 13: Liverpool (H)
May 18: Fulham (H)
May 23: Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
With four games left to play, United are in the box seat to finish second in the table, although they still have an outside chance of catching City if Pep Guardiola's side wobble. Overall, you would expect United to hold onto second place, but the clashes with Leicester and Liverpool are about much more than just themselves, with both the Foxes and Reds eager to join them in finishing in the top-four.
Chelsea's fixtures:
May 12: Arsenal (H)
May 18: Leicester City (H)
May 23: Aston Villa (A)
Chelsea have a game less left to play in the league than United but they do have the same amount of games left to play in all competitions, with both the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come. But considering just how well the Blues are playing right now, you would except them to finish in the top-four whether it be in second, third or fourth.
Leicester's fixtures:
May 11: Manchester United (A)
May 18: Chelsea (A)
May 23: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Just like last season, Leicester are experiencing a sticky patch at the worst possible time. Following Friday night's shock 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United, the Foxes are now two matches without a victory. Considering their final three games are against United, Chelsea and Spurs, nerves may be setting in. They may end up relying on others behind them faltering.
West Ham's fixtures:
May 15: Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
May 19: West Bromwich Albion (A)
May 23: Southampton (H)
Following Leicester's slip up at home to Newcastle on Friday night, West Ham passed up on the opportunity to cut the gap on Brendan Rodgers' side to just two points. The Hammers were beaten 1-0 by Everton at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon, meaning they now face a battle to get into the top-four. However, the Hammers' three remaining fixtures could prove to be favourable.
Liverpool's fixtures:
May 13: Manchester United (A)
May 16: West Bromwich Albion (A)
May 19: Burnley (A)
May 23: Crystal Palace (H)
Unlike their direct rivals in the battle to scrape into the top-four, Liverpool do have a game in hand, that being Thursday night's trip to Old Trafford to face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils. Should Liverpool emerge from that game with all three points, they would be on level points with Leicester if they won their trip to West Bromwich Albion and Leicester lost to United on Tuesday.
The Foxes' involvement in the FA Cup final this weekend means that defeat to United on Tuesday could open the door for Liverpool to seize an opportunity, but Jurgen Klopp's side would have to win both matches.
Tottenham's fixtures:
May 16: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
May 19: Aston Villa (H)
May 23: Leicester City (A)
Still mathematically in the race, Tottenham are still in with an outside chance of securing a top-four finish but they would have to win their games and hope other results went for them. But after Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Leeds United it seems unlikely that they will make a late charge, although the final day clash with Leicester could prove to be interesting if things went their way beforehand.
Conclusion:
Although nothing in football is guaranteed, it is highly likely, baring a late disaster, that City will regain the Premier League title, ruling them out of this equation.
Considering United have four games left, albeit two of them against Leicester and Liverpool, you would expect them to take second place, especially given that their final two games are against Fulham and Wolves.
As for Chelsea, it is hard to see them dropping out of the top-four with the form they are in. Two of their final three games are at home, but it is likely Tuchel will rotate his pack with two cup finals to come. Still, they should have enough to withstand the chasing pack.
On paper, it is Leicester who have the toughest assignments to come, facing three clubs who still have something to fight for. Considering they have to travel to both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, they could be the biggest losers in this end-of-season shootout.
West Ham, you would say, have the easiest set of fixtures to come, if there is such a thing in the Premier League. If they can get back on track after their defeat to Everton and hope that Leicester falter, they are in pole position to pounce.
Liverpool have four games remaining, three of which you would expect them to win. However, the trip to Old Trafford could be telling.
As for Spurs, they are the outsiders in this race and are currently seven points behind Leicester, meaning they need to win all of their remaining matches, hope Leicester slip up and everyone else above them, meaning their Champions League dreams are effectively already over.
