The 30th weekend of Premier League action is in the history books and we’re a little closer to knowing who may qualify for next season’s Champions League.
What’s certain is that Michael Carrick’s iteration of Manchester United is far better than Ruben Amorim’s. The Red Devils bagged a fifth consecutive home win under Carrick, beating Unai Emery’s Aston Villa 3–1, and now have 22 points from a possible 27 since appointing their former midfielder.
The reverse for Villa was the latest blot on a form copybook that leaves plenty to be desired. Talk of a title challenge now seems laughable with Arsenal 19 points clear of Emery’s side, and this latest defeat at Old Trafford was particularly concerning. Ollie Watkins was nowhere to be found for an hour—he was hooked by his manager at that point—and Morgan Rogers, the club’s other leading light, was equally as ineffective.
Still, things were just as bad for Chelsea on Saturday. Not only did referee Paul Tierney get in the way of their now infamous pre-match huddle—don’t forget folks, you must pay respect to the ball—but Liam Rosenior’s side lost to an entirely preventable goal from Anthony Gordon.
That reverse, along with Villa’s defeat, allowed Liverpool to climb back into the Premier League’s top five, but they failed to take full advantage after being held to a 1–1 draw by relegation battlers Tottenham Hotspur. The less said about Guglielmo Vicario’s goalkeeping for Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick, the better.
Of course, five spots being available is dependent on the success of Premier League teams in Europe’s top competitions. After the first legs of the round of 16, things aren’t looking quite as rosy as they once were.
Man Utd, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea’s Next Five Matches
|
Man Utd |
Aston Villa |
Liverpool |
Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bournemouth (A) – March 20 |
West Ham (H) – March 22 |
Brighton (A) – March 21 |
Everton (A) – March 21 |
|
Leeds (H) – April 13 |
Nott’m Forest (A) – April 11 |
Fulham (H) – April 11 |
Man City (H) – April 12 |
|
Chelsea (A) – April 18 |
Sunderland (H) – April 18 |
Everton (A) – April 19 |
Man Utd (H) – April 18 |
|
Brentford (H) – April 27 |
Fulham (A) – April 27 |
Crystal Palace (H) – April 25 |
Brighton (A) – April 26 |
|
Liverpool (H) – May 2 |
Tottenham (H) – May 2 |
Man Utd (A) – May 2 |
Nott’m Forest (H) – May 2 |
Man Utd’s streak of home wins has included the notable scalps of Manchester City and Villa, as well as well as victories over Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Fulham. The good news is three of the Red Devils’ next five outings are at Old Trafford, too—Leeds United, heavily involved in the relegation fight, and Brentford kick things off, before a huge battle with Liverpool takes place at the beginning of May.
A trip to Bournemouth is in United’s immediate crosshairs—Andoni Iraola’s side can be brilliant or extremely average—and there’s also a mouthwatering clash with Chelsea in the colloquially named Alejandro Garnacho derby.
Aston Villa’s run of games looks kind on paper, but Emery’s Europa League glory hunters are low on confidence and rank in the bottom five for Premier League points picked up in 2026. West Ham are scrapping for their lives so that home fixture takes on a whole new complexion, while Villa’s trip to Nottingham Forest in the first game after the international break carries the same stakes.
Sunderland and Fulham are two unpredictable teams who have the ability to surprise, before a juicy looking home game with Tottenham kicks off the final month of the campaign.
Premier League Standings After Gameweek 30
|
Position |
Team |
Points |
GD |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3. |
Man Utd |
54 |
+13 |
|
4. |
Aston Villa |
51 |
+3 |
|
5. |
Liverpool |
49 |
+9 |
|
6. |
Chelsea |
48 |
+18 |
Liverpool must get something from difficult-looking trips to Brighton & Hove Albion and Merseyside rivals Everton, but they should be confident of coming away from home games with Fulham and Crystal Palace with maximum points. What happens at Old Trafford when they face United is anybody’s guess.
Chelsea’s next three Premier League games are less favorable. A trip to David Moyes’s Everton will be tough, as will back-to-back clashes with Manchester’s City and United. Brighton and Nottingham Forest round off the Blues’ next five—matches the club’s increasingly agitated supporters will expect to win.