The race for the Premier League’s top four is reaching a fever pitch, and Manchester United’s resurgence has added a new twist to the story.
The Red Devils took advantage of Liverpool’s setback last weekend to move into the top four.
Liverpool dropped to sixth place Premier League table following a 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth, while United and Chelsea progressed.
United secured an impressive 3-2 win over title favorites Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea eased past Crystal Palace with a comfortable 3-1 victory.
The race for the fourth and final guaranteed place in the Champions League is difficult to predict, although England’s performance in the competition could give them an extra place next season.
Just four points separate fifth-placed Chelsea from 11th-placed Sunderland, although the Blues remain top four contenders alongside United and Liverpool.
United have an advantage over their competitors, considering they will be playing one game a week as a result of being knocked out of domestic cups and not being in Europe.
Liverpool are winless in their last five Premier League games (D4, L1) and are still looking for their first win in 2026, which does not bode well for their chances.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Liam Rosenior has not dampened Chelsea’s momentum, with the Blues hoping to extend their impressive form over the next five games.
With five Premier League matchdays scheduled until the end of February, Sports view preview the next five games that United, Chelsea and Liverpool have in this time frame.
Manchester United
Michael Carrick could hardly have imagined a better start to his second spell as United manager.
The former United midfielder has won each of his two games in charge so far, beating bitter rivals Manchester City and Arsenal to lift the mood at Old Trafford.
Carrick’s early successes have left United fans with a renewed belief that they can return to the Premier League’s highest levels this season.
The 44-year-old replaced Ruben Amorim and continued the task of returning United to the Champions League. Not many would have imagined his chances, but Carrick has changed that outlook.
After overseeing impressive wins over City and Arsenal, United have moved up to fourth in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Chelsea and two above Liverpool.
The United fan base didn’t have much to cheer about with Amorim.
But two games into Carrick’s interim spell, they are starting to believe the Champions League anthem could yet return to Old Trafford.
However, they will have to navigate a tricky run of games in February to bolster their ambition.
The Red Devils will play three Premier League games in the first 10 days of the month.
They’ll kick things off with back-to-back home games against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur before heading to East London to face West Ham United.
With United free from FA Cup duties, their next Premier League outing comes at the end of the month when they visit the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time to face Everton.
They then return to the Theater of Dreams, where they will welcome the Palace on March 1. Even with United set to play one game a week, consistency could be a major concern for the Red Devils.
However, if United reach the Champions League, Carrick will be hard to ignore when the search for a permanent manager begins.
Here are United’s next five Premier League games;
- Fulham (H) – 1 February
- Tottenham Hotspur (H) – 7 February
- West Ham United (A) – 10 February
- Everton (A) – 23 February
- Crystal Palace (H) – March 1
Chelsea
Chelsea have enjoyed a shift in momentum since Rosenior arrived, with the Blues winning five of their six games in all competitions under the Englishman’s leadership.
The only blemish on that otherwise perfect run of form was a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
Victory against Palace saw the Blues win back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time since November last year, when they put together a three-match winning streak, beating Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley.
Chelsea are also on target heading into their next five games on the back of a four-game winning streak in all competitions, including a thrilling 3-2 win against Napoli that sealed their place in the last 16 via automatic qualification.
On paper, the Blues have the most favorable run of fixtures among their top four rivals, and it gives them the chance to further extend their impressive form over the coming weeks.
The Blues face four of their last five in their next four games before traveling to league leaders Arsenal at the start of March.
They kick things off by welcoming West Ham to Stamford Bridge before visiting Molineux to take on basement boys Wolves.
Back-to-back home games against newly promoted and relegation-fighting Leeds and Burnley will precede a blockbuster clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in early March.
Rosenior has done a decent enough job so far, and Arsenal aside, the next few games look kind to Chelsea. The Blues could start to gain momentum in the race for the top four.
- West Ham United (H) – 31 January
- Wolverhampton Wanderer (A) – 7 February
- Leeds United (H) – 10 February
- Burnley (H) – 21 February
- Arsenal (A) – March 1
Liverpool
Liverpool lost their place in the top four after dropping valuable points in their shock defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai should have been enough for Arne Slot’s side at the Vitality Stadium, but the school’s mistakes in defense proved to be their undoing.
The Reds were punished for this setback as Chelsea and United stormed to claim wins against Palace and Arsenal respectively.
Liverpool suddenly find themselves out of the Champions League places and under increasing pressure.
Slot has come under increasing pressure with Liverpool struggling to get results in the league. But the club’s hierarchy has reiterated that the Dutchman’s job is not under threat.
That could change towards the end of the season, especially if Slot doesn’t qualify for the Champions League, which is considered the minimum requirement this season.
With each passing day, they seem to be drifting further and further away, and the next five games could complicate the situation.
Unlike United and Chelsea, Liverpool have a tricky run of games. They kick things off with back-to-back home games against Newcastle United and Man City.
Things get a little easier from here with visits to Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and West Ham, although at least two of those teams have a knack for giving Liverpool headaches.
Liverpool are one of four Premier League teams without winning the league in 2026.
They have to find a way to make sure this record doesn’t last. If they don’t, even the possibility of England finishing fifth in the Champions League may not be enough to save them.
Here are Liverpool’s next five games;
- Newcastle (H) – 31 January
- Manchester City (H) – February 8
- Sunderland (A) – 11 February
- Nottingham Forest (A) – 21 February
- West Ham (A) – 28 February
