The ultimate guide to United's run-in

With the final international break of the season now under way, this is a good opportunity for the Reds to regroup and focus on the task ahead: putting a strong run of form together and making one big final push.

 

The good news for Ralf Rangnick’s side is that there's still a game to play against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal – the side currently in fourth position – while the clubs around us have plenty of tricky fixtures to negotiate. If United can find some consistency, there’s every chance the battle for a Champions League spot could still turn in our favour.

 

So, who do United still have to play? And what kind of schedule do our rivals have? Find out below...

 

We have four homes games left and five aways, and the run-in starts when we hosts Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday 2 April. There’s a potentially feisty trip to Everton to follow: we’ve a decent record at Goodison Park, but the Toffees are involved in a frantic relegation battle at the time of writing, and that factor often adds a tinge of unpredictability to late-season fixtures. 

 

Norwich City are the next visitors to Old Trafford, before two vital away games: a journey to Anfield to try to stymie title-chasing Liverpool, and then arguably our biggest remaining match of 2021/22: that slug-out with Arsenal at the Emirates. Win there, and we surely keep our top-four chances alive. Lose, and the Gunners might just slip over the hill and out of sight. Our last quartet of matches see us host Brentford and Chelsea at Old Trafford and travel south to Brighton and then, on the final day, Crystal Palace.

 

Sat 2 Apr – Leicester City (H)

Sat 9 Apr – Everton (A)

Sat 16 Apr – Norwich City (H)

Tue 19 Apr – LIVERPOOL (A)

Sat 23 Apr – ARSENAL (A)

Mon 2 May – Brentford (H)

Sat 7 May – Brighton (A)

Sun 15 May – CHELSEA (H)

Sun 22 May – Crystal Palace (A)

Arteta's Gunners earned an important 1-0 away win at Aston Villa on Saturday, which keeps them inside the top four with a three-point advantage over Spurs (fourth) and a four-point gap to United (sixth). They also have the cushion of a further game in hand over both teams, and two in hand over West Ham United (seventh) and Wolves (eighth). They still have some testing matches ahead though – Chelsea (A), United (H), West Ham (A) and Spurs (A) stand out.

 

Mon 4 Apr – Crystal Palace (A)

Sat 9 Apr – Brighton (H)

Sat 16 Apr – Southampton (A)

Tue 19 Apr –  CHELSEA (A)

Sat 23 Apr – UNITED (H)

Sun 1 May – WEST HAM( A)

Sat 7 May – Leeds United (H)

Sun 15 May – Newcastle (A)

Sun 22 May – Everton (H)

TBC – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (A)

 

Harry Kane and co got themselves back in the saddle with a smart 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, and arguably have the kindest run-in of the top-four hopefuls. They face just two sides in the top eight (Liverpool and Arsenal) and that crunch meeting with the Gunners is at their impressive new home stadium. They also have Kane and Son Heung-min, who are both in roaring form, plus manager Antonio Conte, who's an expert in forcing his teams over the line amid testing situations.

 

Sun 3 Apr – Newcastle (H)

Sat 9 Apr – Aston Villa (A)

Sat 16 Apr – Brighton (H)

Sat 23 Apr – Brentford (A)

Sat 30 Apr – Leicester (H)

Sat 7 May – LIVERPOOL (H)

Sun 15 May – Burnley (H)

Sun 22 May – Norwich (A)

TBC – ARSENAL (H)

 

David Moyes's men were riding in high in the top four until very recently, but have fallen away slightly – perhaps due to their impressive (but draining) feats in the Europa League. Nevertheless, they are just six points off fourth, and host Arsenal in early May.

 

Sun 3 Apr – Everton (H)

Sun 10 Apr – Brentford (A)

Sun 17 Apr – Burnley (H)

Sun 24 Apr – CHELSEA (A)

Sun 1 May – ARSENAL (H)

Sat 7 May – Norwich (A)

Sun 15 May – MANCHESTER CITY (H)

Sun 22 May – Brighton (A)

 

Just two points behind the Hammers are Bruno Lage's Wolves. Like Moyes's side, they have just fallen away a little from the top-four battle, with three defeats in their last five league games – including a scarcely believable 3-2 loss to Leeds United last week. But they are resilient, and are highly capable of finishing off the season with a long run of gritty wins and clean sheets.

 

Sat 2 Apr – Aston Villa (H)

Fri 8 Apr – Newcastle (A)

Sun 24 Apr – Burnley (A)

Sat 30 Apr – Brighton (H)

Sat 7 May – CHELSEA (A)

Sun 15 May – Norwich (H)

Sun 22 May – LIVERPOOL (A)

TBC – MANCHESTER CITY (H)