How many more points do Man Utd need for top-four finish? Plus Liverpool & Newcastle fixtures

Here’s how the Champions League race looks with three weeks remaining in the Premier League season.

The Red Devils suffered a frustrating 1-0 loss to West Ham United on Sunday with David de Gea’s first-half error proving costly as Said Benrahma netted from a tame strike from distance. As for Eddie Howe’s side, despite putting in a spirited display against Arsenal, they were beaten 2-0 courtesy of Martin Odegaard’s opener and a Fabian Schar own-goal.

Meanwhile, Liverpool kept the pressure on the sides currently in third and fourth place, with a 1-0 home win over Brentford. After a lacklustre season, suddenly it’s the Merseyside club who have momentum coming into the final weeks of the campaign and they’ve won the last six in the league.

There’s also Brighton & Hove Albion to consider. The Seagulls are eight points off the Champions League spots but have played two fewer games than United and Newcastle. They’re next in action on Monday when they host relegation-threatened Everton.

How many more points do United need?

Here’s how the table currently looks.

The Premier League table after games on 7 May.

Currently, Liverpool’s maximum potential points tally is 71, while Brighton could still achieve 73. this term That means United need 74 to guarentee a Champions League place, a tally they can only achieve if they win all four of their remaining matches.

However, given Liverpool and Brighton are unlikely to win all of their combined final nine matches of the campaign, three more wins – and a points total of 71 points – should be sufficient to earn a top-four finish.

United’s final four matches also look relatively kind given they play three at home and don’t face a side going for the title, Europe or in a relegation fight. If United were to win all of the final four matches they’d finish on 74 points, while the most Newcastle could achieve is 77.

Final fixtures

Newcastle- Leeds (A- 13 May), Brighton (H- 18 May), Leicester (H- 22 May), Chelsea (A- 28 May)

United- Wolves (H- 13 May), Bournemouth (A- 20 May), Chelsea (H- 25 May), Fulham (H- 28 May)

Liverpool- Leicester (A- 15 May), Villa (H- 20 May), Southampton (A- 28 May)

Brighton- Everton (H- 8 May), Arsenal (A- 14 May), Newcastle (A- 18 May), Southampton (H- 21 May), Man City (H- 24 May), Villa (A- 28 May)

READ NEXT

‘Pound for pound’ – Stuart Pearce offers verdict on Liverpool’s James Milner amid Brighton link

Stuart Pearce believes Brighton-linked midfielder James Milner has been “pound for pound” the best Premier League professional there has ever been

The Liverpool veteran is reportedly close to signing for the Albion ahead of next season, with the 37-year-old set to become a free agent this summe

Milner has played 616 Premier League games in his career and is ranked third overall for appearances in the top-flight, behind Ryan Giggs (632) and Gareth Barry (652

READ MORE: Paul Merson’s transfer prediction for Brighton duo Mitoma and Mac Allister amid Liverpool lin

He played for Leeds United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa before winning the Premier League title on three occasions, twice with Manchester City and the other with Liverpool in the 2019/20 seaso

Although nothing has been confirmed regarding Milner joining the Seagulls, Brighton CEO Paul Barber admitted that the club are “always looking to add experience and quality” and that there are “one or two candidates out there that fit that bill very nicely

Speaking on talkSPORT, former England Under 21s manager Pearce regarded Milner as one of the best professional footballers he had ever worked with. “I said a few years ago pound for pound he has been the best player in the Premier League there has ever been and I’d stick by that, for what you get, what he gives you around the training camp, the games that he plays. Everything that he stands for, all of those things, you put that in a computer his name would come out one of the top one

“Not best [in the Premier League] as in ability wise, I’m talking about everything that a modern day player should give you. For professionalism, how he conducts himself. I’ve never seen a bad word in news print about James Milner leading the lifestyle that he shouldn’t or anything of that natur

“He is the record caps holder for the England Under 21s. He’s an England international. I didn’t think he’d get an England senior cap when I had him at the Under 21 level. I thought he was a good player but I weren’t sure where he’d ceiling out. He went on to get 47 caps, or something of that nature. He’s won the league with Liverpool. He’s won the league with Manchester City. Just an incredible individual to work wit

“We talk about leadership being in such a sparse commodity in this day and age. I think Liverpool have been really fortunate because they’ve got [Jordan] Henderson and Milner in their dressing rooms. If you want to know what they’re like as individuals go and ask [Jurgen] Klopp about how they conduct themselves and how they guide others in and around them. Milner is magnificent

‘All we can do’ – Paul Barber reveals Brighton’s stance amid potential summer transfer exits Brighton youngster admired by Roberto De Zerbi eyes specific summer loan transfer Adam Webster’s fury at Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes and Solly March and Wout Weghorst reconvene Jason Steele makes Sunderland ‘Til I Die admission and opens up on pre-Brighton struggles Paul Merson makes Brighton and Everton prediction amid Manchester United top four cla