Manchester United's face a pivotal weekend in their bid to ensure their faltering bid for the top four doesn't develop into a season-defining disaster.
The Reds have lost their last two games - 1-0 at both Brighton and West Ham - to see their advantage over fifth-placed Liverpool cut to one point. The Anfield outfit have emerged as the biggest challengers to Erik ten Hag's side and have hit form with six straight Premier League wins.
United's destiny remains in their own hands given they have played a game fewer than Jurgen Klopp's men but they cannot afford many more, if any, slip-ups in their final four fixtures.
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The Reds welcome Wolves to Old Trafford on Saturday and have the chance to put the pressure on Liverpool thanks to the fixture list. For much of the campaign United have played on Sundays while their progress to the final of both domestic cups has seen them behind the curve in terms of league fixtures.
But with European commitments no longer on the agenda for Ten Hag and co they will enjoy a rare free midweek and a 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off against Wolves. And with Liverpool not playing until Monday night when they travel to relegation-threatened Leicester City, it gives United the chance to strike first.
A win over Wolves would open up a four-point cushion to Liverpool and put the pressure on Jurgen Klopp's side to respond against a Foxes side in desperate need of results. And between now and the end of the season, Liverpool will not kick off ahead of United.
The final two weekend fixtures get see the rivals get underway simultaneously while United play their game in hand against Chelsea on a Thursday, three days before the campaign comes to a close. It means United can place themselves as front runners in the top-four race by getting points on the board, with nine the maximum needed to secure Champions League football next term.
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