The Premier League top four race is reaching a fever pitch, and Manchester United’s resurgence has added a new twist to the tale.
The Red Devils capitalised on Liverpool’s setback last weekend to move into the top four.
Liverpool were knocked down to sixth in the Premier League table after their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, while United and Chelsea moved ahead.
United claimed a stunning 3-2 victory over table toppers and title favourites Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea skipped past Crystal Palace with a comfortable 3-1 victory.
The race for the fourth and final guaranteed Champions League spot is difficult to predict, although England’s performance in the competition could give them an additional slot next season.
Just four points separate fifth-placed Chelsea from 11th-placed Sunderland, although the Blues are still major top-four contenders alongside United and Liverpool.
United have an advantage over their competitors, considering they’ll be playing one game per week as a result of being eliminated from the domestic cups and not being in Europe.
Liverpool are winless in their last five Premier League games (D4, L1) and are still looking for their first victory in 2026, which doesn’t bode well for their chances.
Meanwhile, Liam Rosenior’s appointment hasn’t stifled Chelsea’s momentum, and the Blues will hope to extend their impressive form over the next five fixtures.
With five rounds of Premier League games scheduled until the end of February, Sports View previews the next five fixtures that United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have in that timeframe.
Manchester United
Michael Carrick could hardly have imagined a better start to his second interim spell as United manager.
The former United midfielder has won each of his two games in charge so far, getting the better of bitter rivals Manchester City and Arsenal to lift the mood at Old Trafford.
Carrick’s early success has left United fans beaming with renewed belief that they can return to the upper echelons of the Premier League this season.
The 44-year-old stepped in to replace Ruben Amorim, carrying on the task of returning United to the Champions League. Not many would have fancied their chances, but Carrick has changed that outlook.
After overseeing impressive wins over City and Arsenal, United have moved into fourth place in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Chelsea and two above Liverpool.
The United fan base hardly had much to cheer about under Amorim.
But two games into Carrick’s interim spell, they are beginning to believe that the Champions League anthem could yet return to Old Trafford.
However, they’ll need to navigate a tricky run of games in February to bolster their ambition.
The Red Devils will play three Premier League games in the opening 10 days of the month.
They’ll kick things off with back-to-back home games against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur before heading to East London to take on West Ham United.
With United free from FA Cup duties, their next Premier League outing comes later in the month when they visit Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time to face Everton.
They then return to the Theatre of Dreams, where they’ll welcome Palace on March 1. Even with United set to play one game per week, consistency could be a major concern for the Red Devils.
However, if United make it to the Champions League, it’ll be hard to ignore Carrick when the search for a permanent manager begins.
Here are United’s next five Premier League fixtures;
Fulham (H) – February 1
Tottenham Hotspur (H) – February 7
West Ham United (A) – February 10
Everton (A) – February 23
Crystal Palace (H) – March 1
Chelsea
Chelsea have enjoyed a change in momentum since Rosenior arrived, with the Blues winning five of their six games across all competitions under the Englishman’s leadership.
The only blemish in that otherwise perfect run of form was a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final clash at Stamford Bridge.
The victory against Palace made it back-to-back Premier League wins for the Blues for the first time since November last year, when they put together a three-match winning streak, beating Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley.
Chelsea are also poised to head into their next five games on the back of a four-match winning streak across all competitions, including a thrilling 3-2 win against Napoli that sealed their place in the last 16 through automatic qualification.
On paper, the Blues have the most favourable run of fixtures among their top four rivals, and it gives them a chance to extend their impressive form even further over the next few weeks.
The Blues face four of the bottom five in their next four games before travelling to league leaders Arsenal at the start of March.
They kick things off by welcoming West Ham to Stamford Bridge before visiting Molineux, where they’ll take on basement boys Wolves.
Back-to-back home games against newly promoted, relegation-battling duo Leeds and Burnley will precede a box office clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium at the start of March.
Rosenior has done a decent enough job so far, and Arsenal aside, the next few fixtures look kind to Chelsea. The Blues could quite feasibly start to build some momentum in the top four race.
West Ham United (H) – January 31
Wolverhampton Wanderer (A) – February 7
Leeds United (H) – February 10
Burnley (H) – February 21
Arsenal (A) – March 1
Liverpool
Liverpool lost their place in the top four after dropping valuable points in their shocking defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai should have been enough for Arne Slot’s side at the Vitality Stadium, but schoolboy errors in defence proved to be their undoing.
The Reds were punished for that setback as Chelsea and United pounced by claiming wins against Palace and Arsenal, respectively.
Suddenly, Liverpool find themselves outside the Champions League places and under growing pressure.
Slot has come under increasing pressure with Liverpool struggling for results in the league. But the club hierarchy has reiterated that the Dutchman’s job is not under threat.
That could change towards the end of the season, particularly if Slot fails to qualify for the Champions League, which is considered the bare minimum requirement this season.
With every passing matchday, they look to be drifting further and further away, and their next five games could make the situation far more complicated.
Unlike United and Chelsea, Liverpool have a tricky run of games coming up. They kick things off with back-to-back home games against Newcastle United and Man City.
Things get a tad easier from there with visits to Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham, although at least two of those teams have a knack for giving Liverpool headaches.
Liverpool are one of just four Premier League teams without a league win in 2026.
They need to find a way to make sure that record doesn’t linger. If they don’t, even the possibility of England getting a fifth Champions League slot may not be enough to save them.
Here are Liverpool’s next five fixtures;
Newcastle (H) – January 31
Manchester City (H) – February 8
Sunderland (A) – February 11
Nottingham Forest (A) – February 21
West Ham (A) – February 28
