Supercomputer predicts Manchester United top four chances before Tottenham showdown

Manchester United are being tipped to finish sixth in the Premier League once again this season, as their midweek opponents Tottenham scrape into the Champions League positions. United ended last campaign in sixth under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

It prompted United into a shake-up as Erik ten Hag was appointed amid further changes behind the scenes. During his first transfer window, the Dutchman recruited six players - including Casemiro and Antony - and it has, generally, been a positive start for him in the dugout.

However, with a testing double header on the horizon, the FiveThirtyEight supercomputer still predicts United will struggle to maintain their top-four charge between now and the end of the season. Over the coming days, Ten Hag is ready to pit his wits against fellow contenders Tottenham and Chelsea.

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Both of those clubs qualified for the marquee European competition last season but, with Arsenal starting off this campaign so impressively, data analysed by the same website suggests Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool will finish in the top-three, in that order, followed by Tottenham and Chelsea.

Mapping out a potentially exciting end to the season, Tottenham and Chelsea are both backed to finish up with 70 points and for Champions League football to be sealed by goal difference in Tottenham's favour. As for United, they are handed a 24 per cent shot at upsetting those odds.

Tottenham and Chelsea are seen as having more than 50 per cent chance to qualify with City (96 per cent), Arsenal (74 per cent) and Liverpool (70 per cent) overwhelming favourites to lead the way. City are, meanwhile, given 63 per cent odds to win their fifth