Who will secure Champions League qualification? United resurgent, Villa faltering, Liverpool rising | OneFootball

The race for Champions League qualification will be one of the narratives of the Premier League run-in.

With a competitive chase and the consequences of missing the cut perhaps greater than ever, it will be an intriguing battle to see who makes Europe's elite. Arsenal and Manchester City look nailed-on to qualify as the two contest for thePremier League title, but which teams are likeliest to join them?

England's strong position in the UEFA coefficient rankings means it's almost certain that a top-five finish will be enough.

Ahead of the midweek games, there are just eight points between third and eighth in thePremier League table.

Manchester United - 51 points

Manchester United have climbed to third after Michael Carrick's immediate impact as caretaker coach.

Carrick has won six of his seven games in charge, drawing the other, with the Red Devils unbeaten in 2026.

Benjamin Sesko's flurry of goals has been a welcome boost, as has the reintroduction of Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, having been marginalised under Ruben Amorim.United also have the bonus of no distraction.

Out of both domestic cups and without Europe this season, a top-five finish is their sole focus. Huge upcoming clashes with Newcastle andAston Villa will be a test of their mettle.

Remaining fixtures: Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Bournemouth (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H), Liverpool (H), Sunderland (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A).

Aston Villa - 51 points

Are Aston Villa running out of steam? Unai Emery's team were considered a title contender just weeks ago, but a significant slump has seen them fall into the Champions League chasing pack.

Villa have won just two of their last eight Premier League games, and lost at 20th-placed Wolves last time out. Goals are proving to be an issue, with the club's forward line out of form.

Emery needs to get his team back on track ahead of back-to-back clashes with top-five rivals. Earn positive results there, and the picture will look different. The Europa League offers Villa an alternative route to Champions League qualification - and long-awaited silverware.

Remaining fixtures: Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), Burnley (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester City (A).

Liverpool - 48 points

Liverpool will not have expected to be fifth at this stage, with the champions enduring a disappointing defence of the title.

The Reds have regrouped in recent weeks, however, winning six of their last seven in all competitions. Arne Slot's side has the kindest upcoming run on paper, while a recently discovered threat from set pieces bodes well for the run-in.

Liverpool will hope to have enough points on the board before then, but their fate is in their own hands with four successive games against top-five rivals to conclude the campaign.

Remaining fixtures: Wolves (A), Tottenham (H), Brighton (A), Fulham (H), Everton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Manchester United (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Brentford (H).

Chelsea - 45 points

Chelsea face a defining period in the club's campaign this month. Their next six fixtures are all against European hopefuls, including seismic showdowns with Aston Villa and Manchester United.

Add in a two-legged tie with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and Liam Rosenior needs his team to rediscover its spark.

Chelsea are winless in their last three in the Premier League, while discipline remains an issue. Their nine red cards this season are the joint-most a Premier League team has received in a single campaign (all competitions).

Remaining fixtures: Aston Villa (A), Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Manchester City (H), Manchester United (H), Brighton (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Liverpool (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A).

Brentford - 43 points

There were many who backed Brentford for relegation last summer. The Bees lost head coach Thomas Frank to Tottenham, captain Christian Norgaard to Arsenal, and leading scorers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa departed for Premier League rivals after 39 league goals combined last season.

Instead, the Bees are pushing for Europe for the first time in their history. With a favourable upcoming run and increasing confidence, Brentford could nestle into the Champions League chase. There's a five-point gap to the top five as things stand.

Remaining fixtures: Bournemouth (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Manchester City (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A).