Man Utd, Newcastle & Tottenham's fixtures compared in the race for Champions League qualification

Manchester United were the big winners of the weekend's fixtures as they capitalised on Newcastle and Tottenham's defeats by beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the City Ground.

Erik ten Hag's Red Devils produced a measured and convincing display in a pretty tough environment to regain control of the top four race.

With Arsenal and Manchester City all but assured of Champions League football next season, several teams are battling it out for the remaining two spots. While Man Utd and Newcastle are the current favourites, Tottenham are still in the hunt despite their recent woes with Aston Villa and Brighton currently operating as potential outsiders.

The race is on down the final stretch of the season.

Man Utd top four run-in fixtures

Man Utd's conclusion to 2022/23 is bound to be hectic. Ten Hag's side are still fighting on three fronts, and they'll compete in the Europa League and FA Cup before they next play a Premier League game.

With their injuries mounting, United's busy schedule could compromise their top-four bid, especially with crunch fixtures against Tottenham and Villa arriving before the end of April.

The Red Devils open up May with a pair of tricky away games at Brighton and West Ham before they host Wolves at Old Trafford. A trip to the Vitality on May 20 is not as simple as it appears given Bournemouth's resilience before they conclude the campaign at home to Fulham.

United's clash with a woefully out of sorts Chelsea on home soil is yet to be rearranged.

• How can Man Utd qualify for the Champions League?

Newcastle top four run-in fixtures

The Magpies produced one of their poorest performances of the season at Villa Park on Saturday, but they have the chance to respond in a big way next weekend as they host top-four rivals Tottenham at St. James' Park.

Spurs are certainly there for the taking, and victory would all but rule Cristian Stellini's side out of the race.

They're then back on the road under the lights at Goodison Park in a midweek fixture on Thursday, April 27 as Sean Dyche's desperate Everton await. The relegation-bound Southampton visit Tyneside three days later.

Eddie Howe's side begin May by hosting title hopefuls Arsenal. Newcastle crushed the Gunners' top-four hopes on home soil at a similar stage of the season last time out, and they'll be looking to do something similar on May 7. Arsenal's result at the Etihad will determine just how significant a fixture this one is.

The Magpies then conclude the campaign with three winnable games against Leeds, Leicester, and Chelsea. Their difficult home game against Brighton is yet to be rescheduled.

• How can Newcastle qualify for the Champions League?

Tottenham top four run-in fixtures

While Spurs currently sit just three points off Newcastle, it's hard to envisage this broken club putting up much of a fight down the stretch.

After squeaking past Brighton two Saturdays ago, Tottenham had a great chance to capitalise on Newcastle's defeat at Villa when they hosted Bournemouth, but they instead contrived to lose 3-2 at the death.

Dango Ouattara's late goal felt like the nail in the coffin.

For Spurs to have any chance of qualifying for the top four, they must beat Newcastle and Man Utd in their next two games. However, even if they do take points off their rivals, their schedule doesn't exactly lighten up thereafter. A trip to Liverpool beckons at the end of April before they face two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League in Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

A slumping Brentford visit north London on the penultimate matchday before the visit Leeds on the final day. Javi Gracia's side will likely be fighting for their lives when Tottenham come to town.

At the moment, you wouldn't back this Spurs side to beat anybody.

• How can Tottenham qualify for the Champions League?