There are likely to be five Champions League positions available at the end of the season, with six teams, including Man United, currently battling it out
Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football
Gary Lineker has made his predictions for the Champions League positions(Image: The Rest is Football)
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Gary Lineker has predicted that Manchester United will finish the season in the Champions League positions due to the momentum built under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
United are unbeaten since the former midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, winning four and drawing one of their Premier League games. They are back in action on Monday night as they take on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (8pm kick-off).
Ahead of the match, United sit in fifth position in the table, but avoiding defeat will move them above Chelsea into fourth. England’s European coefficient means that it’s likely that the top five will again qualify for the Champions League next season.
That’s good news for the teams, including United, fighting for the spots. But with six teams currently battling it out, it means that at least one will miss out.
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Speaking on The Rest is Football, Lineker has given his prediction as to who that will be. “It’s pretty tight up there for the Champions League spots,” he said.
“I would say [Aston] Villa probably, they’ve got a lot of fixtures. The addition of Tammy Abraham will help them, they’ll be in the top five.
“Then two from three. At the moment, the three of them are on 45 points. I think the way they are going, if they stay injury-free, United will take one of them.
Lisandro Martinez and Benjamin Sesko celebrate after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium.
Manchester United have been backed to claim a Champions League spot at the end of the season. (Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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“Who would have thought that if you said last season that Man United would finish above Liverpool? Even a few weeks ago you would have gone, what?
“I think the other spot is between Liverpool and Chelsea. I think United will do it, they’ve got momentum, belief, but as long as they don’t have any injuries, because I don’t think they’ll cope with that. If they don’t, I think they’ll finish in the top five.
“Chelsea and Liverpool are both erratic. Chelsea have got a lot going for them, but a bit inexperienced. Liverpool are definitely better than they were in the first half of the season. Defensively, they aren’t giving goals away.
Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Carrick and Steve Holland during Man United's 2-0 win over Man City
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“If you pinned me against the wall and asked me to give you the top five; Arsenal, City, Villa, Man United and Liverpool, Chelsea just missing out.”
Villa currently sit in third place in the table, six points ahead of Chelsea, United and Liverpool, although United have a game in hand. All three teams, in fourth, fifth and sixth, are currently separated by just goal difference.
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