When analysing Manchester United's remaining Premier League fixtures just two or three weeks ago, not many would have described this forthcoming Saturday's clash with Wolves at Old Trafford as a must-win game.
United, who defeated the Black Country outfit 1-0 at Molineux back in December, however, have lost each of their last two matches without scoring and have won just one of their last four. They have threatened to hit the buffers at the worse possible time, putting unnecessary pressure on themselves to secure a top four finish.
While they have stumbled in recent weeks, Liverpool have found form at just the right time, winning each of their last six matches. It means they will head into this weekend's round of fixtures just a point behind the Reds in fifth.
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Liverpool, despite not being at their fluent best in recent weeks, have a developed a reputation for finding a way to get the job done, highlighted by the fact they have won each of their last five games by just one goal, including successive 1-0 wins over Fulham and Brentford. It has, nevertheless, resurrected their hopes of securing Champions League qualification for next term.
They are the side bang in-form at this moment in time and a trip to relegation-threatened Leicester City next Monday evening represents another welcoming opportunity to get another three points on the board. But Liverpool will be aware of the fact they have just three games left in comparison to United's four, meaning Erik ten Hag's side know their destiny remains in their own hands.
Three of United's last four games are at Old Trafford and their home record this season suggests they should be able to get the points they need to stave off the threat of their arch rivals in their rear-view mirror. Their current form, however, is generating cause for concern.
It would, too, be easy for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to get carried away, believing that they could pip United to the final Champions League place. But the German, speaking ahead of last weekend's results that saw his side beat Brentford and United lose at West Ham United just over 24 hours later, played down his side's chances of breaking into the top four, backing the Reds to retain their position.
Speaking the day after United's 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, Klopp said: "Other teams are in much better positions. As long as they win games, we have no chance and we have to keep teams behind us, which (for) not all of them we can do that.
"We have 59 points [now 62], United has 63 so we can get 71 maximum. United needs for that eight points in five, (eight points) from 15. I think they will do that. They win three games of the rest and that is it for us."
Considering United have lost to West Ham since Klopp made that admission, it means they now have just four games left to prove him right and keep hold of a top four berth. Three home games in their last four certainly gives them a good opportunity to collect the nine points they need to guarantee them a top four finish, but nothing can be taken for granted, certainly at this stage of the season.
United have stumbled in recent weeks and their tally of just one goal in their last three matches does generate concern. But they are in charge of their own destiny and it is down to them to prove to Klopp that there shall be no way through for his side, just as he suggested last week.
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