Manchester United's next six Premier League fixtures compared with Aston Villa, Spurs and rivals

Manchester United moved to within six points of the top four with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Scott McTominay headed home an unlikely 86th-minute winner to seal a third successive Premier League win for Erik ten Hag's side. United took an early lead through Rasmus Hojlund, who scored for the fifth league appearance running, before Douglas Luiz brought Villa level with 67 minutes played.

As a result of McTominay's late heroics, United are now just five points behind Villa having played an equal number of games. Though they are still playing catch-up, the Reds have started 2024 in very encouraging fashion, winning three of their first four league games this calendar year.

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With the race for the final Champions League spot no longer looking as clear-cut as it did just a few weeks ago, MEN Sport has had a close look at United's next six league assignments and compared them with those of the teams in and around them in the table.

Verdict: With the bit currently between their teeth, United will fancy their chances of amassing a good haul of points from their next crop of fixtures. Aside from the trip to the Etihad Stadium at the start of next month, they will enter five of their next six assignments as favourites, though the clash with Sheffield United will be postponed if United progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals later this month.

Sunday's trip to Luton Town will not be easy, but it is a golden opportunity for United to record a fourth successive league win. Should they achieve that, the clash with Fulham the following weekend is