Manchester United now in the driving seat for fourth spot

Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata scored a brace in a vital 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon

Manchester United’s 2-1 victory at North West rivals Liverpool on Sunday put the Red Devils in the driving seat to claim fourth spot.

The win put United five points clear of fifth-place Liverpool in the Premier League table. Juan Mata was the hero for United grabbing a brace with a goal in each half.

Advantage

At this point of the season that advantage is a rather big one in the race for a place in the top-four and a Champions League spot for next season. The Red Devils produced a very good performance in the first half.

Liverpool got back into the game in the second period slightly. However the sending off of Reds captain Steven Gerrard just 38 seconds after coming off the bench really did hinder their chances of claiming anything from the game.

Ridiculous

For a player of the experience and quality of Gerrard it really was a ridiculous thing to do. No doubt the emotion of playing for the Reds against United for the last time and frustration at not starting the game got the better of the former-England captain.

Gerrard did have the good grace to come out and apologise for the incident after the match, but it did not change the fact that his team were at a disadvantage in a vital game.

Brendan Rodgers team were forced to play nearly the whole second period with ten men and it was always going to be difficult to claim anything from the game after that.

Form

Liverpool went into the game as the form team of the Premier League in 2015, but were surprising poor in the first half against United. The men from Merseyside have looked confident in most of their recent games, but that confidence seems to fade when they face United.

Liverpool supporters will be hoping that this defeat does not derail their challenge for a top-four place completely. However, it is a major blow in the race for a Champions League spot.

Difficult

Liverpool faces a major challenge in their next game, which is a trip to Arsenal after the weekend break for international games. The Gunners are themselves in fine form after claiming another victory at the weekend beating Newcastle 2-1 at St James Park.

Arsenal have now won their last six Premier League matches and have a very strong record at home this season. Their form has saw the Gunners close in on second place Manchester City, who are now just a point ahead of Arsene Wenger’s team in the Premier League table.

The side from north London will certainly be no pushovers and Liverpool will have to be at their best to claim a victory. Reds fans will be hoping the form of the few games prior to the United match will return at the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile Manchester United host relegation-threatened Aston Villa at Old Trafford in their next game. The Red Devils game definitely looks the easier of the two games, especially with United seemingly finding decent form.

Others

The other teams challenging for the top four Tottenham and Southampton also picked-up victories at the weekend to stay in the race for Champions League qualification.

Both teams are now six points behind United and will still be hoping that the Red Devils slip-up in the last ten games of the Premier League season.

Odds

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal look strong favourites to finish in the top three at the moment. Out of the teams below the aforementioned trio, Manchester United are favourites to finish in the top four at odds of 1/ 4, while Liverpool are odds of 10/3, Tottenham are odds of 10/1 and Southampton are odds of 11/1 to claim a Champions League spot.

Manchester United have not always looked convincing this season under veteran Dutch boss Louis van Gaal, but yesterday’s performance at Liverpool was a very good one and if they continue to play like that for the rest of the campaign, then they will be difficult to stop.

Manchester United currently hold the upper hand in the race for fourth spot, but the Premier League can be an unpredictable beast and that could all change in the last few weeks of the season.

Will Manchester United go on to clinch fourth spot?