Some Manchester United players are playing for their future after Ralf Rangnick warning

Maybe all hope isn't quite extinguished for Manchester United when it comes to finishing in the top four this season, but ahead of a trip to Merseyside on Grand National day, there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome between now and the end of May.

The problem for Ralf Rangnick is that this team have been clipping the smallest of hurdles all season and there are still a few jumps the size of Beechers Brook to get over when the margin of error is now slim to non-existent.

United still have to play Chelsea at Old Trafford and Liverpool and Arsenal away in their remaining eight games, but even Saturday's trip to an Everton team battling against the drop comes with a degree of fear.

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Rangnick has won nine of 21 games in charge of United and for that reason they are the outsiders compared to Tottenham and Arsenal when it comes to securing that last Champions League spot. You wouldn't even rule out West Ham finishing above them.

But even if United fall at the next fence the season shouldn't be considered 'dead' - as Paul Pogba described it over the international break - even if they are currently playing like they want these final weeks simply to come to an end.

It would be naive of this squad to believe their next manager isn't watching developments now and whether it's Erik ten Hag or Mauricio Pochettino that arrives this summer their decisions over the futures of some players will partly be conditioned by what happens in these next few weeks.

After the draw with Leicester City last weekend, when United didn't play like a team desperate for the three points that they really needed, the character of the squad was again questioned.

Rangnick attempted to