Manchester United received a surprise Champions League boost following their draw with Bournemouth after defeats for Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League
Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring a goal for Manchester United
Manchester United may have lost to Bourenemouth but they have been handed a huge boost(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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It may have been considered a missed opportunity to pile pressure on Chelsea and Liverpool when Manchester United could only draw against Bournemouth on Friday. However United have increased their advantage by a point as time begins to run out for teams to make their final push to qualify for the Champions League.
There remains a strong chance that the Premier League will receive five places in the competition, but finishing fourth is a guarantee. Michael Carrick's side will be in third place heading into the international break, regardless of how Aston Villa fare against West Ham.
The Midlands club are four points behind United, with Liverpool two further back and Liam Rosenior's Chelsea another point behind them. As a result, United are seven points ahead of sixth place, and have opened a gap with just seven matches remaining of the season.
Crucially, following a 3-0 defeat against Everton, Chelsea have won just one of their previous six matches in the division. While Carrick has injected vigour into United's push, Liam Rosenior is now slightly scrambling to stop a freefall.
Carrick has played it coy over his expectations, but United took another step forward this weekend, albeit a small one. We take a look at how confident the club should feel, looking at their remaining fixtures.
Man United fixtures
Leeds (h)
Chelsea (a)
Brentford (h)
Liverpool (h)
Sunderland (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
Brighton (a)
Chelsea fixtures
Manchester City (h)
Manchester United (h)
Brighton (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
Liverpool (a)
Tottenham (h)
Sunderland (a)
Verdict
The two teams share four fixtures and also play each other within their final seven matches. Given that Chelsea face a title-chasing Manchester City and a Tottenham side who may be fighting for their lives in a derby fixture, it's difficult not to see the Blues as having the more difficult run-in.
Certainly, without beating United, seven points looks a significant gap to bridge or to even strike fear into Carrick's side. Greater threats lie in wait from teams in better form, such as Everton, or from resurgent sides with a stereotypically easier run-in, such as Newcastle.
United are looking on course, given the advantage they already hold, and those sides will pose a greater threat to the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. The ability to play Champions League football next term is firmly in United's hands.