Aston Villa’s Premier League run-in compared to Tottenham and Man Utd as Champions League plot thickens

Aston Villa’s crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has certainly dampened the chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League but there’s still plenty of matches to put things right.

Still with a two-point advantage over Spurs and an eight-point gap to Manchester United, the Villans shouldn’t go into panic mode just yet. Yes, losing a six-pointer is never good news and it throws the momentum baton to Ange Postecoglou with a game in hand, but the run-in could yet provide more twists.

Starting with Tottenham’s game in hand, three points certainly shouldn’t be assumed as a trip to Chelsea awaits. The Blues are out of sorts this season but they’ve occasionally turned up in big matches, notably against Manchester City. It’s also a fierce London derby, meaning anything could happen and Villa could well still have the advantage with the same games played.

The fate of the Champions League fight won’t come down to merely one fixture, though, with over a quarter of the season still to be played. With that in mind, here’s a run-through of the run-ins Villa, Tottenham and Man Utd face.

Aston Villa run-in

Unai Emery's side have nine more fixtures and they still have to play the Premier League top three, with two of those clashes away from home. The run-in begins with a trip to West Ham United on Sunday and the hosting of local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break.

Arguably the trickiest tie of all, away at Manchester City, follows on Wednesday April 3, though that could be moved if the Villans advance in the Europa Conference League. Brentford at home is after that, before another tricky journey to title challengers Arsenal on April 13.

Two home fixtures follow against AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea ahead of a Brighton & Hove Albion away on May 4. The final game at Villa Park is against Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp taking on his last-ever Premier League match on the road. The last fixture is then away at Crystal Palace on May 19.

In full: West Ham (A), Wolves (H), Man City (A), Brentford (H), Arsenal (A), Bournemouth (H), Chelsea (H), Brighton (A), Liverpool (H), Crystal Palace (A).

Tottenham run-in

Spurs, just like Villa, still have to face the three title chasers but the rest of the fixtures are rather favourable. Postecoglou's men take on Fulham away before the internationals and then it's Luton Town at home upon the return. A trip to West Ham United follows midweek before the hosting of Nottingham Forest on April 8.

It gets interesting on April 13 as a run of four mightily difficult games begins. Newcastle United away is tricky enough but then it's Manchester City and Arsenal at home before Liverpool away. The game in hand against Chelsea is likely to be sandwiched somewhere in that period, too. The season then ends nicely with Burnley at home and Sheffield United away.

In full: Fulham (A), Luton (H), West Ham (A), Forest (H), Newcastle (A), Man City (H), Arsenal (H), Liverpool (A), Burnley (H), Sheff Utd (A). *Chelsea (H) to be confirmed.

Man Utd run-in

The Red Devils are the only of the three teams analysed without a fixture remaining against the Premier League title holders, Man City. The matches against Liverpool and Arsenal are both at Old Trafford, too, giving Man Utd a slight advantage over Villa and Tottenham. Erik ten Hag's side need an easier fixture schedule compared to their rivals as the points deficit is significant.

United's next two games are after the international break, away at Brentford and Chelsea within five days of one another. The hosting of bitter rivals Liverpool follows, before an away trip to Bournemouth on April 14. Newcastle United come to Old Trafford six days later ahead of another home game, against Burnley on April 27.

To round things off in May, an away trip to Crystal Palace proceeds two tricky matches. Arsenal arrive in Manchester for the penultimate game of the campaign on May 11 before United finalise things away at Brighton on May 19. In conclusion, the Red Devils have the best run-in of the three teams assessed.

In full: Brentford (A), Chelsea (A), Liverpool (H), Bournemouth (A), Newcastle (H), Burnley (H), Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Brighton (A).