Premier League top-four race: Five key games to watch
With the end of the international break in sight, attention is starting to turn towards the final stretch of the domestic season.
The Premier League top-four race is shaping up for a nail-biting finish, so we look at five key fixtures which will go a long way to deciding who qualifies for next season’s Champions League.
April 11: West Ham United vs Leicester City
West Ham United know that they need to record statement wins if they are to turn their brilliant season into a memorable one.
With Leicester City sitting seven points above them in third place, West Ham know that these three points will be pivotal.
April 16: Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
For eighth-placed Everton and sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, two campaigns marked by inconsistency could have a successful conclusion.
With Everton sitting five points off the top four and with a game in hand, and Tottenham three points off, Champions League qualification is a very real possibility.
This crucial match promises to be a thriller. After all, it did end 5-4 to the Toffees when they last met in the FA Cup fifth round in February.
April 24: West Ham United vs Chelsea
For Chelsea, aside from their top-four aspirations, they are looking to secure a ninth FA Cup and the Champions League.
This challenge will test Thomas Tuchel’s squad to the limit, and their tough assignments include a trip to the London Stadium just days before a potential Champions League semi-final, should they overcome Porto at the quarter-final stage, in a vital match for both sides.
May 1: Manchester United vs Liverpool
Liverpool know that they need to have an almost faultless end to the season in order to turn a difficult season into a successful one.
They will face teams below them in the table until travelling to Old Trafford in just over a month’s time, with their top-four hopes resting on this make-or-break derby.
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May 23: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City face a daunting end to the season, with trips to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge followed by a home clash with Tottenham on the final day, and they will hope to have their Champions League place secured before these fixtures.
Their top-four hopes in the 2019/20 campaign were extinguished in a final-day decider with Manchester United, so if it comes down to the last day, they will hope to avoid a repeat this time around against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs.