Who do our rivals play during April?

Monday 03 April 2023 09:05

As we enter the penultimate month of Premier League action for the 2022/23 campaign, the race for the top four is firmly on.

Erik ten Hag's side are currently fourth in the table following today's defeat at St. James' Park, with Newcastle having leapfrogged the Reds into third. The race is firmly on elsewhere too, with Tottenham firmly breathing down our necks. Brighton, Brentford and Liverpool are also hunting European places.

With United still involved in both the FA Cup and the Europa League too, it's set to be a hectic end to the season, with the Reds set to play another eight times across the month of April.

But with the Premier League having resumed this weekend, following the recent international hiatus, we've gathered together the key information regarding how our rivals' schedules are lining up.

Read on to get a flavour of just how tasty the top-four race could prove to be in the latter stages of the campaign...

Wan-Bissaka absence explained

 Article

Aaron was not in the matchday squad to take on Newcastle at St James' Park.

NEWCASTLE
3rd, 50 points

High-flyers Newcastle United are bidding to qualify for Europe for the first time since the 2012/13 season and have had an impressive campaign to date, despite suffering defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Ten Hag's side back in February.

Having kept their top-four hopes alive with a 2-1 win away to Nottingham Forest before the international break, Eddie Howe's side got their revenge with a 2-0 win over United at St James' Park on Sunday.

Following our meeting on Tyneside, the Magpies will play three consecutive away games, with trips to West Ham, Brentford and Aston Villa all to come.

Home clashes with Spurs and Southampton are broken up with a trip to Goodison Park in the final week of April, with Newcastle hopeful of securing their highest top-flight finish in over 10 years.

NEWCASTLE'S APRIL FIXTURES:

05 April: West Ham (A)
08 April: Brentford (A)
15 April: Aston Villa (A)
23 April: Spurs (H)
27 April: Everton (A)
30 April: Southampton (H)
TOTTENHAM
5th, 49 points

Having parted company with manager Antonio Conte just last week, Spurs are once again on the lookout for new direction. The Italian lasted just 16 months in charge in North London, and the Lilywhites are tasked with the challenge of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League without him.

A trip to Merseyside to face a much-improved Everton comes on Monday evening, before back-to-back home games against Brighton and Bournemouth in the coming weeks.

Spurs face Newcastle (A), United (H) and Liverpool (A) at the end of the month and each of these games could have a huge bearing on their top-four aspirations.

SPURS' APRIL FIXTURES:

03 April: Everton (A)
08 April: Brighton (H)
15 April: Bournemouth (H)
23 April: Newcastle (A)
27 April: UNITED (H)
30 April: Liverpool (A)
BRIGHTON
6th, 43 points

One of two teams currently level on 43 points, Brighton are once again punching above their weight in the Premier League.

Set to meet the Reds at Wembley later this month for our FA Cup semi-final, Roberto De Zerbi's side are hoping to qualify for Europe for the first time in the club's history.

Following the Seagulls' thrilling draw with Brentford on Saturday afternoon, a trip to Bournemouth comes on Tuesday evening, before another away test at Spurs soon follows.

A visit to managerless Chelsea - who parted with Graham Potter at the weekend - comes swiftly after, with our semi-final set for Sunday 23 April. Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Wolves at home round off Brighton's busy April.

BRIGHTON'S APRIL FIXTURES:

04 April: Bournemouth (A)
08 April: Spurs (A)
15 April: Chelsea (A)
23 April: UNITED (N - FA CUP)
26 April: Nottingham Forest (A)
29 April: Wolves (H)
90 in 20: United v Liverpool Video

90 in 20: United v Liverpool

90 in 20 | Ten Hag's first win as United boss came against Liverpool, on 22 August 2022. Relive an epic night...

BRENTFORD
7th, 43 points

Enjoying yet another fruitful season in the Premier League, Brentford are also still in with a chance of making the top four this season.

Having suffered only five domestic defeats so far in 2022/23, 12 draws along the way mean Thomas Frank's men can still qualify for Europe for the very first time.

A midweek trip to Old Trafford comes following Saturday's clash with Brighton, with Newcastle up next for the Bees after Wednesday's game in M16.

Wolves at Molineux, Aston Villa at home and Chelsea away all follow, before a home game against Nottingham Forest completes a busy month of action.

BRENTFORD'S APRIL FIXTURES:

05 April: UNITED (A)
08 April: Newcastle (H)
15 April: Wolves (A)
22 April: Villa (H)
26 April: Chelsea (A)
29 April: Nottingham Forest (H)

United Cup semi-final details confirmed

 Article

Find out when Erik ten Hag's Reds will be taking on Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley.

LIVERPOOL
8th, 42 points

Jurgen Klopp's men have experienced indifferent form this season, recording big wins over top-four rivals United and Newcastle, but also falling to shock defeats such as their 1-0 loss away at Bournemouth before the international break. Klopp's side were defeated on Saturday too, being swept aside 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium by Pep Guardiola's men.

Having surrendered their FA Cup and Carabao Cup crowns earlier this season, the Merseysiders have a tricky month to come.

A Tuesday night trip to Stamford Bridge is up next, before a home game against current league leaders Arsenal brings another stern challenge.

Elland Road and strugglers Leeds United then await for Liverpool, with home games against Nottingham Forest and Spurs broken up by an away encounter against West Ham, at the London Stadium.

LIVERPOOL'S APRIL FIXTURES:

04 April: Chelsea (A)
09 April: Arsenal (H)
17 April: Leeds (A)
22 April: Nottingham Forest (H)
26 April: West Ham (A)
30 April: Spurs (H)

Recommended: