Manchester United's remaining Premier League fixtures compared with Arsenal, Tottenham and rivals

Manchester United's hopes of securing a top-four finish this season were slightly lifted on Monday evening following Arsenal's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Entering the weekend's fixtures in fourth-place, the Gunners, who face United at the Emirates Stadium later this month, dropped out of the Champions League places after north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur beat Newcastle United 5-1 on Sunday. Avoiding defeat against Palace, however, would have seen them immediately move back above Antonio Conte's side.

However, they were no match for Palace, who produced an excellent display to ensure Tottenham ended the weekend as the occupants of the final Champions League berth. It means that just five points now separate Spurs in fourth and Wolves in eighth, with United currently sitting in seventh, three points behind the Londoners.

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United failed to make up ground on Saturday evening, drawing 1-1 with Leicester City at Old Trafford. However, Arsenal's surprise defeat to Palace has thrown the race wide open again, even though the Gunners still have a game in hand.

But, as proven over the weekend, the battle for fourth place is going to provide plenty of twists and turns over the coming weeks. With that in mind, MEN Sport has analysed United's remaining fixtures in comparison to those of their fellow top-four hopefuls.

Verdict: A quick glance at the Premier League form table over the last five matchdays does not make good viewing for United, certainly in comparison with Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham United. The Reds are currently positioned 14th in the form table, whilst Spurs are at the top of the pile with four