This season has witnessed the most competitive race for Champions League football in Premier League history, with just six points separating Liverpool in fourth spot and Brighton all the way down in 12th. It means no team can be taken for granted, as United know all too well after failing to beat all of the teams in the bottom six at least once.
Yet it also means that every side around them have their problems. While Arsenal, City and Aston Villa should be assured of finishing in the top three and stamping their ticket back into the Champions League, fourth and fifth spot are well and truly up for grabs.
Liverpool have failed to win in their last four league matches meaning that Arne Slot is not far from being sacked while Chelsea, who are one point and one place below United, have a near novice coach in charge in Liam Rosenior and a talented but mismatched squad that is severely lacking experience.
Seventh-placed Brentford are the surprise package of the season, and even being in the conversation is an incredible achievement for the Bees given it is Keith Andrews' first season as a coach and he lost so many key players in the summer, including his two top scorers and captain. But Brentford have lost 40 percent of their games and have little experience of fighting for European spots
Newcastle, level on points with the Bees in eighth, are struggling for consistency and worn out from juggling Champions League football while Sunderland, also on 33 points, lack the true quality to sustain a top-four charge. As for Everton, Fulham and Brighton below them, they all seem to have too many flaws to put together a consistent run of victories.