Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle’s remaining fixtures as Champions League race hots up

Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle’s remaining fixtures as Champions League race hots up

Manchester United and Newcastle both enjoyed success on a crucial afternoon in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s critical trip to Leicester on Monday

Manchester United tightened their grip on a Champions League place after the Red Devils beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday.

Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho scored either side of half-time, securing a costly victory for Erik ten Hag’s side, who were four points clear of Liverpool in the race for a top four finish.

United are now level with third-placed Newcastle, but have a worse goal difference than the Magpies and remain fourth. The Red Devils have seven days off before the next game. They travel to Bournemouth, for back-to-back home games against Chelsea and Fulham to wrap up the season.

Liverpool are hoping to close the gap on Monday night when they travel to relegation-threatened Leicester. The Reds have won their last six games and are the second-fittest team in the Premier League after Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s side also kept clean sheets in their previous two appearances, after overcoming Fulham and Brentford, both down 1-0. After the move to Leicester, Klopp’s men receive Aston Villa and travel to Southampton on the last day.

Klopp was asked about the top four race on Friday. He said: “We don’t mention (Barca/Alisson header) but the people involved remember it. We were there when miracles happened. But it was in our hands. Now we have to win, but this does not mean that nothing changes. A few. ” A few weeks ago, I could not see it at all.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp spoke about the Champions League run (Getty Images)

Who will make it to the Champions League places? Let us know in the comments below!

Meanwhile, Newcastle all but missed a chance to secure a Champions League place with a 2-2 draw at Leeds. Luke Ayling put the Whites ahead, before Patrick Bamford had a chance to double from the spot. However, the striker’s penalty was saved by Nick Pope.

That gave the Magpies a lift and Callum Wilson struck either side of half-time to put them in a commanding position. But Eddie Howe’s side were unable to hold on to their lead as Rasmus Kristiansen struck late on to earn a share of the spoils.

Newcastle’s fate is still in their own hands, however. They require two wins from their remaining three matches to secure a place in Europe’s top club competition. The Magpies host Brighton and Leicester, before travelling to Chelsea on the final day.

Speaking on the top-four race, Howe said: “We can wait a few more days if we achieve it, but obviously it’s the hardest league in the world. It’s the toughest, and we were under no illusions about how difficult today was going to be. When we had our noses in front, that’s what makes it a little bit difficult to take, but onto the next match.”

Newcastle, Man Utd and Liverpool’s remaining fixtures

Newcastle

Brighton (H) May, 18, 7.30pm.

Leicester (H) May, 22, 8.00pm.

Chelsea (A) May, 28, 4.30pm.

Man Utd

Wolves (H) May, 13, 3.00pm.

Bournemouth (A) May, 20, 3.00pm.

Chelsea (H) May, 25, 8.00pm

Fulham (H) May, 28, 4.30pm

Liverpool

Leicester (A) May, 15, 8.00pm.

Aston Villa (H) May, 20, 3.00pm

Southampton (A) May, 28, 4.30pm

Also.. 

Liverpool Champions League hope boosted again after Leeds 2 : 2 Newcastle 

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes just raised again thanks to USMNT star Jürgen Klopp

Liverpool could only watch and hope Leeds United would do something for them against Newcastle United. Weston McKennie and company did their best on Elland Road.

The problem with chasing the first four races is that you keep praying for others to slip. The downside for Liverpool is that not too long ago it looked like the Reds would watch the Champions League run without actually getting involved.

However, that is certainly not the case anymore. Instead, Liverpool need Newcastle or Manchester United to drop more points while Jurgen Klopp’s side need to win each of their remaining games. Liverpool are still very active on the approach.

With a tie against defensively struggling Leeds United, Newcastle still need a win and two draws in their last three games – provided there isn’t a crazy goal difference – to finish ahead of the Reds. . The fight seems to be going all the way.

Newcastle’s next two games will be against Brighton and Leicester City – both at home – before their final day at Chelsea, which admittedly looks much easier than it did a few months ago. USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie and former MLS star Jack Harrison did their best to help Liverpool out, but in the end Leeds didn’t have enough quality to secure a home win.

Two completely unnecessary errors in defense gave Newcastle easy chances to score from the penalty spot, allowing Callum Wilson to score a brace. Without those mistakes, a point could easily have been more for Leeds.

First, Maximilian Wöber got nowhere near the ball but took out Alexander Isak inside the box, and then Junior Firpo — once a Liverpool transfer target — touched the ball with his fingers while trying to exaggerate how hard he has been pushed in the back.

Leeds, to its credit, did try and fight back. Rasmus Christiansen crashed a shot in to make it 2-2, before Firpo was sent off and a chaotic end to the clash ensued, including an intruder getting close enough to Eddie Howe to tap the Newcastle boss on the shoulder.

Sam Allardyce’s side tried and tried, but there is a reason that they are one the teams to look in danger of the drop. Liverpool hoped for a Leeds victory, but got the next best thing.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool still has to do its own job, of course, but Patrick Bamford’s missed penalty kick feels like a big moment. Had the Leeds forward scored, Newcastle would have been two down; instead, it went up the other end and equalized. That’s what relying on a team as defensively weak as Leeds to do you a favor leads to.

Importantly, though, while Newcastle looked ready to scrap, it also showed weakness of its own. Other than the penalties, it did not create loads of chances, and managed to concede twice. It was fortunate that Bamford did not convert under pressure and there were glimmers of hope to cling to. McKennie, for instance, largely did well against Bruno Guimarães and co in the center with an impressive showing.

Newcastle did well to come back having gone a goal down, but was far from perfect. Brighton on Thursday will give them much more of a challenge. The top four spots still are a way off for Liverpool in terms of what needs to happen, but it can only do its own job. The percentage chance of it happening — as has been happening for a weeks — has just slightly increased again. Liverpool.com says: Liverpool still have their work to do, of course, but Patrick Bamford’s missed penalty looks like a big moment. Had the Leeds forward scored, Newcastle would have lost two; instead he went up the other side and equalized. This is where it leads to relying on a weak side defensively like Leeds to please you.

Importantly, while Newcastle looked set to be demolished, they also showed their weakness. Aside from penalties, he didn’t create many chances and conceded twice. Thankfully, Bamford didn’t budge under pressure and there were glimmers of hope to hold on to. For example, McKennie did largely well against Bruno Guimarães and company in center with an impressive performance.

Newcastle did well to come back from a goal down, but it was far from perfect. Brighton will offer them a much bigger challenge on Thursday. The top four is still a long way off for Liverpool in terms of what needs to be done, but they can only do their job. The percentage chance of that happening has – as it has for weeks – just increased slightly again.