With seven Premier League matches remaining, Manchester United’s hopes of Champions League football next season are beginning to look desperate. Ralf Rangnick’s side are tasked with closing the six-point gap to fourth-placed Tottenham between now and the end of May.
But by the end of this month, that challenge may already be beyond United. They face relegation-threatened Norwich at home on Saturday, before matches against title-challengers Liverpool and top-four rivals Arsenal. All three sides still have something to play for, and that could well be United’s undoing.
Against Everton on Saturday, Rangnick’s side struggled to cope with the desire and fight of Frank Lampard’s side, as the Merseysiders won to boost their fight against relegation. United had looked to be mounting a strong top-four challenge in March, but in recent weeks their form has dipped.
