Liverpool’s Diogo Jota secured a dramatic 4-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur with a 94th-minute winner, keeping Liverpool’s season alive and putting pressure on Manchester United to secure a return to the Champions League. Although United are currently seven points clear with a game in hand, they cannot take their eyes off Liverpool. If they do, they could surrender the top-four spot they’ve held for more than half the season. Jota’s goal against Tottenham could prove to be one of the most significant of the 2022-23 campaign. Without it, Liverpool would have lost their momentum, and United would have only needed two wins and a draw from their final six games to clinch a top-four finish.
Newcastle United claimed an eighth win in nine league games by beating bottom-club Southampton at St James’ Park, putting them nine points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with five games to play. Meanwhile, United overcame in-form Aston Villa 1-0 and steadied themselves following a recent wobble that had seen them win just one of their previous five games in all competitions. They are in pole position to qualify for the Champions League, and the final month of the season is never quite as straightforward as it seems.
United has been hit hard by injuries to key players in recent weeks, such as centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane, and must summon energy and performances to pick up nine points from their final six games if Liverpool continue to win. Jurgen Klopp’s side is the ones in form, with four straight league wins and 15 goals. United has struggled to score in their recent games and managed fewer goals (14) in their last 12 outings.
The number of goals scored at the end of the season could yet come into play as a decisive factor. If United win two, draw two, and lose two of their remaining six fixtures, they will end the season on 71 points. That has been enough to qualify for the Champions League in each of the past three seasons. Still, Liverpool can also finish on 71 points by winning their five remaining fixtures, and their goal difference is vastly superior to United’s: +23 to +10 in their favor. That advantage was built up in one game, the 7-0 win against United at Anfield in March.
Looking at the remaining fixtures, United has a much tougher run of games, but they should still have enough to get the nine points they need. United’s next game is a trip to eighth-placed Brighton, a team looking to secure European football for the first time and one that beat United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season. After that, the fixture list reads: West Ham (a), Wolves (h), Bournemouth (a), Chelsea (h) and Fulham (h).
Liverpool will push them hard, and Jota’s late goal on Sunday made United’s final run of games much more stressful. With games against Fulham (h), Brentford (h), Leicester (a), Villa (h), and Southampton (a), Klopp’s players could amass all 15 points from their remaining games if they maintain their recent form.
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