Manchester United's prospects for Champions League qualification are as promising as they have been all season. They picked up another three points on Sunday while direct competitors Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea all dropped points.
When Michael Carrick assumed control in January, United languished in seventh place in the league with a three-point gap to the top four. They were 11 points adrift of Villa at the time but have now closed the gap to Unai Emery's side and occupy third place themselves following a haul of 22 points from Carrick's initial nine matches at the helm.
The top four finishers in the Premier League will be guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League and there could potentially be a fifth spot up for grabs. This will hinge on the performance of English clubs in Europe this season, though the majority of the nine teams in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League round of 16 underwhelmed in their first leg clashes.
United currently hold a five-point cushion over Liverpool and a six-point advantage over Chelsea. This means winning their next six fixtures would guarantee a top-four finish by the weekend of May 9, even if either Liverpool or Chelsea - who meet each other that very weekend - win all their remaining games.
There's a chance Carrick's side could even secure fourth place even earlier if rival teams drop points along the way. Aston Villa have been on a poor run of form with just three wins from their 12 fixtures since the new year, while Liverpool face a tough run-in including matches against Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in May.
