Manchester United face two of their top-four rivals in the next five Premier League matches as the battle to secure a place in the Champions League intensifies

Manchester United strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League return after sweeping aside top-four rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Casemiro gave the Reds the lead just after half-time but Villa responded to equalise through Ross Barkley. However, Michael Carrick’s side showed character to go back in front as Matheus Cunha found the net before Benjamin Sesko gave United a two-goal advantage late on to seal a crucial three points.

The result has kept United in third, three points above fourth-place Aston Villa and Liverpool in fifth, and six points ahead of Chelsea in sixth. As England are expected to have an additional spot in the Champions League for next season, United need a maximum of 18 points from their remaining eight matches to secure a top five finish.

And a win against Bournemouth on Friday would give them a nine-point buffer above sixth place heading into the rest of next weekend’s Premier League fixtures. And with that in mind, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at United’s next five top-flight matches compared to their rivals in the race for the Champions League…

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Manchester United next five fixtures

Bournemouth (A) – March 20, 8pm kick-off

Leeds (H) – April 13, 8pm kick-off

Chelsea (A) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brentford (H) – April 27, 8pm kick-off

Liverpool (H) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Aston Villa next five fixtures

West Ham (H) – March 22, 2.15pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (A) – April 11, 3pm kick-off

Sunderland (H) – April 18, 3pm kick-off

Fulham (A) – April 25, 12.30pm kick-off

Tottenham (H), May 2, TBC kick-off

Liverpool next five fixtures

Brighton (A) – March 21, 12.30pm kick-off

Fulham (H) – April 11, 5.30pm kick-off

Everton (A) – April 19, 2pm kick-off

Crystal Palace (H) – April 25, 3pm kick-off

Man United (A) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Chelsea next five fixtures

Everton (A) – March 21, 5.30pm kick-off

Man City (H) – April 12, 4.30pm kick-off

Man United (H) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brighton (A) – April 26, 4.30pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (H) – May 2, 3pm kick-off

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