Manchester United tightened their grip on a top-four spot with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Goals either side of half-time from Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford secured a fourth successive league win for the Reds, moving them level on points with third-placed Newcastle United and five clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds, although they had David de Gea to thank in the second half for preserving their clean sheet, were dominant from the first whistle, ensuring they made an emphatic start to 2023.
As well as the victory moving them level on points with Newcastle, it also moved them to within a point of cross-city rivals Manchester City. City, however, will reopen a four-point gap if they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.
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But having won each of their three fixtures over the festive period without conceding a single goal, United have form in their sails, meaning they will head into the derby clash with City at Old Trafford on January 14 with a spring in their step. Depending on the outcome of the Blues' tussle with Chelsea, a win for United over Pep Guardiola's side a-week-on-Saturday could lift them above them in the table.
It means that the race to secure Champions League qualification for next season, as well as the race for the title, has become all the more interesting following Tuesday night's results. With that said, MEN Sport has taken a close look at United's next six fixtures compared to those of their expected rivals in the race for a top-four finish.
Manchester United - 4th (35pts)
- Manchester City (H) - January 14
- Arsenal (A) - January 22
- Crystal Palace (H) - February 4
- Leeds United (A) - February 12
- Leicester City (H) - February 19
- Brentford (H) - February 26
VERDICT: With four home games in their next six matches, this upcoming period could prove defining in United's quest to ensure they end the season in the Champions League places. On current form, you would back them to beat anyone at home, meaning they will head into the clashes with Palace, Leicester and Brentford as favourites, maybe even against City, too, given their recent stutters.
The trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal later this month promises to be the sternest test of United's next crop of matches, but they have little reason to fear the Gunners, such is the impressiveness of their own recent form. In truth, four wins from their next six should be the minimum expectation.
Arsenal - 1st (44pts)
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - January 15
- Manchester United (H) - January 22
- Everton (A) - February 4
- Brentford (H) - February 11
- Manchester City (H) - February 15
- Aston Villa (A) - February 18
Manchester City - 2nd (36pts)
- Chelsea (A) - January 5
- Manchester United (A) - January 14
- Tottenham Hotspur (H) - January 19
- Wolves (H) - January 22
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - February 5
- Aston Villa (H) - February 12
Newcastle United - 3rd (35pts)
- Fulham (H) - January 15
- Crystal Palace (A) - January 21
- West Ham United (H) - February 4
- Bournemouth (A) - February 11
- Liverpool (H) - February 18
- Brighton (H) - February 25
Tottenham Hotspur - 5th (30pts)
- Crystal Palace (A) - January 4
- Arsenal (H) - January 15
- Manchester City (A) - January 19
- Fulham (A) - January 23
- Manchester City (H) - February 5
- Leicester City (A) - February 11
Liverpool - 6th (28pts)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - January 14
- Chelsea (H) - January 21
- Wolves (A) - February 4
- Everton (H) - February 13
- Newcastle United (A) - February 18
- Crystal Palace (A) - February 25
Chelsea - 10th (25pts)
- Manchester City (H) - January 5
- Fulham (A) - January 12
- Crystal Palace (H) - January 15
- Liverpool (A) - January 21
- Fulham (H) - February 3
- West Ham United (A) - February 11
*All fixtures are subject to change.
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