Manchester United could climb into the top-four if they beat Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night.
Ruben Amorim on the touchline.
Ruben Amorim has turned things around at Manchester United. (Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The Sky Sports supercomputer has predicted Manchester United to finish fifth place in the Premier League this season. The Reds have enjoyed a promising start to the campaign - but there's plenty of work still to be done if they're to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
United could climb into the top-four if they manage to defeat Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night. Ruben Amorim's side will fancy their chances, having gone unbeaten in their last five games, winning three and drawing the other two.
The Sky Sports supercomputer, which digests 100,000 simulations of the season's remaining fixtures in addition to performance data and betting odds, has taken note of the Reds' upturn in form. It has backed United to finish fifth in the table, with an expected points tally of 63.2.
The algorithm reckons the Reds will win about 45 points from their remaining 27 games - that's a respectable average of 1.67 a match. Arsenal have been crowned champions (78.4 expected points), with Manchester City finishing second (72.4 expected points).
Surprisingly, or not, the Sky Sports Supercomputer has tipped Liverpool to place third (66.7 expected points). Despite their disastrous start to the campaign, it reckons the reigning champions will win 49 points from their remaining 26 matches.
Chelsea are set to finish in fourth place - with 66.2 expected points. The Club World Cup champions are closely followed by United in fifth, which could be enough to clinch Champions League qualification, depending on this season's coefficient.
Ruben Amorim watches on during training.
Ruben Amorim watches on during training.(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves have all been predicted to be relegated. Nevertheless, Amorim will be hoping there's method to the madness behind the supercomputer, with United eager to get back into European top-flight.
The data - and results, of course - suggest the Portuguese tactician is making good progress at Old Trafford. After a year in charge, Amorim is pleased with what he's seeing.
"We are showing that but the important thing is it doesn't matter what we did in the recent games," said the United boss. "We cannot forget we start in that point to suffer a lot last year, we have to take that into account and play every game like the last one or the first one.
Ruben Amorim applauds the Man Utd fans.
Ruben Amorim applauds the Man Utd fans. (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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"Of course, I expect a team with more control, more dominant, playing better football and, the most important thing, more competitive in every way."
On the race for European football, Amorim added: "In our league, the table doesn't matter because everything is so tight that it is irrelevant. If you know the history of our team you never know when it is a difficult game.
"So that [run of fixtures] is completely irrelevant in the Premier League."