Friday 22 April 2016 08:40, UK
Can Liverpool make a last-minute run for the top four?
The Reds thrashed their local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday evening and are now unbeaten in April during the Premier League, winning the last three games and drawing one.
Throw in an incredible comeback performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League and Jurgen Klopp's men - currently six points off fourth place but with a game in hand over some of their rivals - look to have hit a fine vein of form at a crucial time.
West Ham and Manchester United kept up their charge with respective wins over Watford and Crystal Palace, while Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City into third with a win over West Brom on Thursday.
Who's got the toughest run-in? And could European competition prove a distraction? We assess the chances of the top-four chasers...
Form
Liverpool have scored four goals in two of their last three Premier League games against Everton and Stoke, now going unbeaten in the last month, but they do have a Europa League semi-final on the cards before the end of the season.
After a comfortable 3-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday Night Football, Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Newcastle on Tuesday.
They might be Champions League semi-finalists but City cannot afford to keeping slipping up at home, with United cutting the gap between the sides to just two points following their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.
The Eagles had another hand in the race for the top four as they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, but the Gunners - who had been frustrated by successive draws - won their game in hand over West Brom on Thursday night to go four clear of United.
West Ham broke their run of four consecutive Premier League draws with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday and sit three points behind Man United in the Europa League spot.
Remaining fixtures
Man City welcome Stoke to the Etihad on Saturday following their 4-0 defeat by Spurs on Monday Night Football and, looking at their run-in, they'll be optimistic of a strong finish to the domestic campaign, regardless of their European commitments.
Southampton (a), and Swansea (a) should offer opportunities to take maximum points, while City's penultimate fixture, at home to Arsenal, offers the ideal stage for Pellegrini's men to strike a direct blow against a top-four rival.
Sunday, May 8 will no doubt be circled in Arsene Wenger's diary, too. Like City, Arsenal will hope to win their other remaining games - against Sunderland (a), Norwich (h) and Aston Villa (a) - but that trip to the Etihad could be key.
Manchester United - who beat both City and Arsenal in their previous meetings with them - are aiming to put themselves in a position to capitalise on any slip-up and will be favourites to win at least four of their five remaining games. The other comes against leaders Leicester.
Liverpool face a big test on Saturday as Rafa Benitez returns to Anfield with his battling Newcastle team, with Chelsea in their penultimate game of the season the pick of their remaining fixtures.
As for West Ham, they play United on Tuesday, May 10 and will need to win that final fixture at Upton Park, plus the majority of their other four remaining games to spring a surprise.
Liverpool have a eight first-team players on the injury table at the moment with Divock Origi the latest name on the list from Wednesday evening. Martin Skrtel, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke and Jordan Rossiter are also sidelined along with long-term absentee's Joe Gomez and Danny Ings.
Manchester United are currently hampered by four injuries with Adnan Januzaj, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw and Will Keane all unavailable.
Man City are also without four players, although Samir Nasri has returned. Gael Clichy, David Silva and Bacary Sagna are also suffering.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still sidelined for Arsenal but Jack Wilshere is close to a return, while long-term absentee Carl Jenkinson is West Ham's only player in the treatment room.
Are they confident?
Louis van Gaal pulled no punches when he was asked about United's hopes for the top four, saying after the win over Crystal Palace: "We are putting pressure on them (Arsenal and Man City) throughout the season. At the end of the season it counts much more... We have four matches to go and we must win them all. Then we have a chance."
Slaven Bilic is also ready for a top-four fight and said after the win over Watford: "This is not over... We will give everything in this last four games to win all of them. Where that will take us we don't know but we are going to give everything and if we play like this or even better we have a chance against every team."
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker was in a similarly fighting mood, telling Sky Sports News HQ before the West Brom game: "I think as long as the team is still hungry, still wants to go for it, that's going to be the key. As long as we keep that, we have the opportunity to get 15 points out of the five games. Then let's see what the outcome is." It's one down, four to go for the Gunners.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has pinpointed the two games that cost his side, but says he is pleased with how they have reacted heading towards the end of the season.
"For different reasons, we lost important games in February against Leicester and Tottenham," he said. "For me, they're the two games that don't allow us now to be involved in the title... Now I think we are stable again and I'm very happy to finish the way we are doing in these last games."
Jurgen Klopp was also in a positive mood after the Merseyside derby victory, telling Sky Sports: "We are in a good moment... Beating Everton is a special thing in our situation in the table where we want to take what we can get."
Conclusion
With just four points separating third and fifth - and considering West Ham are only five points out of the picture - the race for the top four is far from over. It's tough to call, too.
West Ham bounced back from their late draw with Leicester with a positive performance against Watford, but Manchester United will also be optimistic of reeling in the two teams above them.
A win for either Man City or Arsenal when they meet in the penultimate round of fixtures could send the loser crashing out of the Champions League qualifying spots.
City's involvement in the Champions League semi-finals cannot be discounted, either. Pellegrini's side face a trip to Southampton and that home game with Arsenal immediately after their ties with Real Madrid. Could their exertions in Europe damage their domestic ambitions?
How City and the other teams in contention deal with the pressure of the run-in will be key.
Who do you think has the toughest run-in? Let us know using the message boards or by tweeting @SkyFootball
