Manchester United will spend the current international break occupying third in the Premier League table after Tottenham Hotspur missed out on the chance to climb above them on Saturday.
With United in FA Cup quarter-final action, both Spurs and Newcastle United were presented with the opportunity to eat into the Reds' slender advantage in the standings. Spurs blew a two-goal lead against Southampton, drawing 3-3, to leave them one point behind Erik ten Hag's troops, while Newcastle moved to within three points of them with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
The Reds' league form has suffered in recent weeks, perhaps because of the amount of energy they have had to put into other competitions, meaning they have won just two of their last five Premier League outings. Nevertheless, they remain a strong bet to secure a top-four finish and a route back into the Champions League for next term.
