Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea go into the international break having failed to press their advantage. Those stumbles have kept the race for a top-five finish alive with all three clubs refusing to capitalise on one another.

With seven matches remaining in the season, their next five Premier League games take on renewed significance. Below is how the schedules line up.

Man Utd
Leeds (H) – April 13
Chelsea (A) – April 18
Brentford (H) – April 27
Liverpool (H) – May 2
Sunderland (A) – May 9

For Manchester United the upcoming run is relatively promising. With just seven matches to play, United sit in third place and are well clear of Chelsea and Liverpool behind them. Aston Villa, also in the top five, remains a team United must respect. The international break offers a short period of rest before they host Leeds United on April 13. Their meetings with Chelsea and Liverpool are split between Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, and victories there could prove decisive to their European ambitions. The Londoners beat United earlier this season, a reminder that form can change quickly since Michael Carrick’s transformative appointment as interim head coach.

Liverpool
Fulham (H) – April 11
Everton (A) – April 19
Crystal Palace (H) – April 25
Man Utd (A) – May 2
Chelsea (H) – May 9

Liverpool have been inconsistent this season. The defeat to Brighton was their 10th in the competition, six more than last campaign, and confidence may not be high ahead of Fulham on April 11. The home game follows critical cup assignments against Man City in the FA Cup and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Chelsea
Man City (H) – April 12
Man Utd (H) – April 18
Brighton (A) – April 26
Nott’m Forest (H) – May 2
Liverpool (A) – May 9

Chelsea face a testing sequence, beginning with Manchester City at home and including away trips to Brighton and Anfield. Major pressure rests on Liam Rosenior’s side after their Champions League exit, and results across these fixtures will shape their chances of finishing in the top five.

A weekend of shocks and dropped points has shifted the Opta supercomputer’s view of the 2025/26 Premier League season. With the top two away for the Carabao Cup final, teams below have been jockeying for position in the race for Champions League places.

Manchester United were held to a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth in controversial circumstances. Liverpool fell 2–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea suffered a 3–0 defeat to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Opta’s projection still favours Arsenal for the title. The model lists Arsenal on 70 current points with an expected points total of 84.80 and a title chance of 97.77%. Manchester City sit on 61 points with an expected 74.47 and a 2.23% title chance. The statisticians are not looking past Arsenal.

On Champions League qualification the supercomputer gives Manchester United (55 current points, expected 66.09) an 86.25% chance, while Aston Villa (51, expected 64.13) has a 66.68% chance. Liverpool are projected on 49 current points with an expected 60.53 and a 27.33% chance. Chelsea stand on 48 current points, expected 58.63, with a 13.39% chance. Brentford (45, expected 56.09) are at 3.64%; Everton (46, expected 54.96) 1.37%; Newcastle (42, expected 54.12) 0.73%; Brighton (43, expected 53.48) 0.53%.

Michael Carrick’s side are still in an imposing position with seven games left to play despite the Bournemouth draw. Unai Emery’s side remain heavy favourites for the final top-four spot, having done most of the early campaign work.

Arne Slot’s side retain a route back into the Champions League thanks in part to England’s strong coefficient. Liam Rosenior’s side face a difficult run and are projected for the Europa League.

At the bottom, Opta’s relegation table places Tottenham on 30 points with a 12.67% relegation chance (expected 40.63). Nottingham Forest are on 29 with a 32.11% chance (expected 38.58). West Ham are on 29 with a 48.44% chance (expected 37.73). Burnley (20, expected 26.34) have a 99.90% chance and Wolves (17, expected 24.94) a 99.94% chance. Sunday’s Tottenham v Nottingham Forest meeting is highlighted as pivotal for both clubs.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe publicly rejected reports that Bruno Guimarães is in talks with Manchester United, calling the speculation a distraction from the midfielder’s recovery and commitment to his club.

“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“I don’t even think I should because it’s a waste of my energy.

“I’m not going to be impolite because I don’t think it’s the forum to do that in. For me it’s a nonsense story.

“Bruno’s our captain, he’s fully committed. He’s injured at the moment, his only focus is coming back to fitness.

“For me, it is not the time to think about it. In the summer, you can understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open. To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else. He is totally committed here.”

Howe’s remarks came amid renewed attention on Manchester United’s midfield situation. As Casemiro prepares to depart on a free transfer, the club faces a summer in which it must identify top options to reinforce the centre of the pitch.

The Brazilian’s expected exit could be compounded by potential departures elsewhere. Manuel Ugarte has struggled for form this season and could leave, a scenario that would leave Kobbie Mainoo as the only natural central midfielder available while the youngster nears agreement over a new contract.

With financial flexibility, United have been linked with several high-profile targets. Bruno Guimarães sits towards the top of their wish list but is not presented as the sole option. Teammate Sandro Tonali is another Newcastle player attracting interest from Europe’s elite ahead of a summer window in which many top sides are expected to pursue midfield reinforcements.

Sources describe shortlists growing into longlists as clubs build alternatives to respond to competition. For now, Newcastle maintain that their captain remains focused on recovery and on the club where he holds the armband.