 MANCHESTER UNITED REMAINING FIXTURES FOR 2021 COMPARED TO THEIR RIVALS

Manchester United remaining fixtures for 2021 compared to their rivals by Stefan Attard

The final international break of 2021 has just ended ushering in what will be the busiest spell of the season for Manchester United. At the time of writing this article, Manchester United have just suffered a shocking defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under enormous pressure to turn his side’s fortunes around - and fast and the defeat forced United to relieve him of his duties. The defeat to Watford marked United’s fifth defeat in their last seven Premier League matches, leaving them twelve points behind current table-toppers Chelsea and six points shy of the top-four. Michael Carrick was then promoted to a caretaker manager and he started off to a flyer by securing a vital win in Spain against Villarreal. This significant win meant that United will qualify as the leaders to the next round of the Champions League. In a season which started with huge expectations following a good transfer window, our title aspirations have already been blown away.

With United now 12 games into their Premier League campaign and their title aspirations all but over already, here is a close look at their how their next six league games compare with the other five clubs that currently make up the top-six.

Manchester United ‑ 8th (17pts) Although United’s form has been dismal of late, the fact that Liverpool slipped up against Brighton and West Ham United following their win at Old Trafford kept the top-four within touching distance. If United are to bridge that gap, however, they are going to have to get wins on the board fairly quickly, especially in this upcoming period, which features a range of fixture types.

After sacking Solskjaer, United managed to qualify for the Champions League next round, and will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, meaning that will be another daunting prospect against one of the leading title contenders.

After facing the Blues at Stamford Bridge on November 28, United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford just four days later. A few weeks ago, this game would have been seen as a good opportunity for the Reds to secure three points. However, Arsenal have turned the screw in recent weeks and will offer a stern test.

Following the clash with Arsenal, United welcome another London club to Old Trafford, this time Crystal Palace. Despite Patrick Vieira’s side not being considered as one of the Premier League’s elite, they have already won at the Etihad Stadium this season, offering a warning sign for what they are capable of.

The Red Devils do have nine games to manage heading into the New Year, however later fixtures should serve them well.

United are involved in the only match not taking place on Boxing Day while they also have to wait until January 3 to kick-start the action in 2022. United’s biggest tests are both at Old Trafford as well, with an opening December clash with Arsenal preceding a Champions League tie against Young Boys.

Arsenal ‑ 5th (20pts) After a terrible start to the campaign, the north Londoners have gone on an unbeaten run in the Premier League moving above United in the table in the process.

Mikel Arteta has overseen a rapid improvement at Arsenal in recent months. Like United’s, Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures are likely to give a more accurate reading of where they are currently at. After their good run their trip to Anfield ended with a heavy defeat. The Gunners will now welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side will be in action nine times across the course of festive period. Arsenal start with a difficult away day to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United which precedes a run of seven games before they finish at home to Man City on January 1, 2022.

The Gunners’ lack of European football does ease their fixture list slightly but they do have to squeeze in a League Cup quarter final against Sunderland as well. That game comes in the middle of Arsenal’s busiest period in which they have to play six times in 18 days – an average of playing a match every three days.

Liverpool – 4th (25 points) After a couple of stutters against West Ham and Brighton, Klopp’s side hammered Arsenal with a 4-0 scoreline. The Reds then have another home game to look forward to against Southampton a week later. A short trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Merseyside derby kicks-off Liverpool’s December schedule, before facing Wolverhampton Wanderers, also away from home, a few days later.

The Anfield outfit then have another two home games to look forward to against Aston Villa and Newcastle, meaning four home games in their next six matches looks like an opportunity for them to get back on track after a minor blip.

Jurgen Klopp famously doesn’t like England’s crowded Christmas period – and this year the German won’t be happy with his side playing ten times. The one boost is the Reds have already topped their Champions League group so can afford to rest a few key stars for an away trip to face AC Milan. Yet after that, Liverpool play four matches in 11 days with three Premier League games and a Carabao Cup quarter‑final to navigate.

West Ham ‑ 4rd (23pts) Arguably the surprise package of the season so far, all eyes will now be on West Ham to

see if they can remain in the top-three after moving above Liverpool on Sunday. Their upcoming fixture schedule, at first glance, looks a daunting prospect, but having beaten Liverpool they are not likely to fear anyone. Their first game after the international break was a trip to Molineux to face Wolves where they suffered a 1-0 defeat. Moyes’ side then will lock horns with Manchester City just over a week later at the Etihad Stadium.

After two games on the road, the Hammers will return to more familiar surroundings, facing both Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea at home in the space of four days. David Moyes’ side will then be back on the road for back-toback away trips against Burnley and Arsenal, meaning four of the Hammers next six matches are away from home, as well as the fact that four of them are against sides currently camped inside the top-seven.

A cost of the Hammers’ high‑flying season is an increased fixture list with the club having to play five games in less than a fortnight – three of which are London derbies in December. West Ham may be afforded a rest for their Europa League exploits, however as a win against Rapid Wien this month will ensure top spot in Group H.

Man City ‑ 2nd (26pts) After cruising past Everton at the Etihad Stadium, City have another home game to fulfil, this time against West Ham on November 28. City then face back-to-back away games, first against Aston Villa to kick‑ off their December schedule, before facing Watford a few days later. Pep Guardiola’s side then return to the Etihad for back-toback home games against both Wolves and Leeds United, meaning four of their next six are at home and only two of them, as things stand, are against sides currently in the top half of the table.

Pep Guardiola will have his lightest festive period since arriving in England, with his side out of the Carabao Cup for the first time in five seasons. City still have nine games in December with a difficult Champions League trip to face RB Leipzig in between a run of much kinder Premier League games. The Etihad outfit have favourable away‑day clashes with top‑flight strugglers Aston Villa, Watford and Newcastle.

Chelsea ‑ 1st (29pts) Currently top of the pile after 12 games, Chelsea will be hoping to retain top spot on the run-up to Christmas and beyond. Despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Burnley, the west London club retained their three-point advantage at the summit with an emphatic win against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. At the time of writing Thomas Tuchel’s side will face United at Stamford Bridge. A trip to Vicarage Road to face Watford kicks December off for the current league leaders, before they travel to West Ham a few days later. The Blues then have back-to-back home games against Leeds and Everton.

The Blues have been swamped with a hectic Christmas period with ten matches in just one month – including a clash with title rivals Liverpool. Thomas Tuchel’s men are currently top of the table but face a battle to hold onto their lead with three away games kicking off a busy December. Chelsea also have to navigate a 2,600-mile return trip to Russia for a Champions League tie with Zenit St Petersburg and a Carabao Cup quarter-final.

At the time of writing, United return to action after an imporoved if not spectacular performance in Spain to face league leaders Chelsea. After this daunting task the United fixtures will not get any better as they face Arsenal in the space of just four days. After this, Ralf Rangnick should be taking over interim managerial duties until summer. In the meantime both the performances and the results must improve significantly if we still have aspirations for Champions League football next season.