Four Premier League fixtures remain and the battle for Champions League qualification is reaching its final phase. Manchester United sit closest following Monday night’s victory over Brentford, which saw them move 11 points clear of sixth place. The points totals heading into the run-in read: Man Utd 61, Liverpool 58, Aston Villa 58 and Chelsea 48.

Man Utd
Liverpool (H)
Sunderland (A)
Nott’m Forest (H)
Brighton (A)

Liverpool
Man Utd (A)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Brentford (H)

Aston Villa
Tottenham (H)
Burnley (A)
Liverpool (H)
Man City (A)

Chelsea
Nott’m Forest (H)
Liverpool (A)
Tottenham (H)
Sunderland (A)

Chelsea have a significant deficit to overturn. In fact, given they’re 10 points behind fifth-placed Villa, Opta’s fabled supercomputer offers them just a 0.58% chance of qualifying for the Champions League. “Even victory in all their remaining matches is unlikely to be enough.” On paper the Blues have winnable fixtures, including a trip to Anfield and home matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, but the numbers leave them dependent on others. “They would need Villa to come fifth in the Premier League and win the Europa League, while also finishing sixth themselves.”

Liverpool should be comfortable but their schedule is testing: trips to Manchester United and Aston Villa sandwich a home meeting with Chelsea, and they finish at home to Brentford. The Reds are eight points clear of sixth currently. “The Reds need a maximum of five more points to ensure their qualification.”

Aston Villa sit level on points with Liverpool but behind on goal difference and will aim to clinch qualification quickly, mindful of the Europa League semifinal first leg with Nottingham Forest on Thursday. Their next two fixtures, at home to Tottenham and away at Burnley, are opportunities to move closer to safety in the top five before tougher tests follow.

Jadon Sancho has indicated an openness to a third spell at Borussia Dortmund once his Manchester United contract expires this summer. Sky Sport Germany reports Sancho has “communicated his willingness” to return to the club where he enjoyed his most productive years and where, on a short-term loan, he helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final in 2024.

Dortmund had shown interest last summer but ultimately judged the move too costly. Sancho instead moved on from United, spending 2024–25 on loan at Chelsea before joining Aston Villa, and this season he has mainly been used as a backup option.

Sancho’s best period remains his first Dortmund spell, aged 17 to 21, when he emerged as a potent threat from both flanks. The compiled season record in the original report underlines that output across his early Dortmund seasons and subsequent spells (including detailed goals and assists totals from 2017–18 through the ongoing 2025–26 season at Aston Villa).

According to the Sky Germany piece, talks have included “specific financial details” and Sancho has expressed a preference for Dortmund ahead of a “multitude” of alternatives. Manager Niko Kovač is reportedly supportive, but the decision will rest with managing director Lars Ricken and sporting director Ole Book.

Staying at Aston Villa remains a possibility. When asked in February, Unai Emery said: “Hopefully he can help us by increasing his qualities in our structure like he is doing,” Emery said at the time. “He will need another contract, and maybe it could be here. If he plays his best football, we will want him. But other teams could also be involved in the interest for him.” Any Villa continuation would depend on contract terms and how well Sancho fits the club’s structure.

Other potential destinations mentioned include Turkish sides such as Galatasaray or Fenerbahçe, Napoli and AC Milan, as well as a more unlikely Watford homecoming. The report notes the risks and rewards of those options and concludes Sancho, still only 26, needs a clear reset to revive his career.

With a cluster of important matches over the next month, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea all face schedules that could determine the final Premier League places for next season’s Champions League.

Current standings make the contest tight. Man Utd sit on 58 points, Aston Villa have 55, Liverpool 52 and Chelsea 48. Chelsea have just one win in their last eight league matches, and the four-point gap between Chelsea and the fifth-place Reds could increase to seven within 24 hours.

United return home to take on Brentford next before welcoming Liverpool to Old Trafford. A trip to the Stadium of Light follows and United conclude their home fixtures with relegation-battling Nott’m Forest. By the time Carrick’s men face Brighton on the final matchday, the club expect their Champions League place to be wrapped up.

Aston Villa are no longer part of the title conversation but remain on course to match their best finish of the 21st century if they take care of business. Fixtures against Sunderland and Fulham should be straightforward on paper, then in May Unai Emery’s side meet Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley. Villa finish with Liverpool at home and an away trip to Man City, and could still influence the title picture on the final day.

Liverpool face a more testing run. The Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium comes first, followed by Crystal Palace. The Reds then travel to Old Trafford before hosting Chelsea and later visit Villa Park, where they have not won in four years. Brentford are Liverpool’s final opponents, a match that could be nervy if a win is required to secure Europe.

Chelsea need near-perfect results to climb back into the top five, starting with matches against Brighton and Nott’m Forest. For the defending Club World Cup champions, the next month will be decisive in whether they can salvage a Champions League challenge.