Jose Mourinho was confident before the match against Crystal Palace that his side could make it to the top four by the start of 2019. However, the Portuguese gaffer predictions took a new twist after his his side goalless draw against the Eagles at Old Trafford. They failed to secure the points against a team who is currently 16th in the league and who were easily crushed by Chelsea and Tottenham in their previous two matches.
To answer whether United can make it to the top four or not, let’s look at their upcoming matches. Manchester United have seven matches to player before the new year and first up will be away at St. Mary Stadium against Southampton followed by an two home fixtures against Arsenal and Fulham respectively. Four days after they returned from Spain to play Valencia in the Champions League, the Red Devils travels to Anfield to play Liverpool which then will be followed up by another away visit to Cardiff City before their final home fixtures of the year against Huddersfield Town and AFC Bournemouth.
There are no assurances Mourinho’s men can beat a new-look Unai Emery’s Arsenal side while the same can be said of Bournemouth, and Liverpool. Arsenal are doing well in outings this season and are yet to taste defeat since their two defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea at the beginning of the season. While the Gunners are contending for a top-four finish this season, Liverpool are in lock-horns with Manchester City for the Premier League and judging by the Old Trafford club performance so far this season, they don’t pose a threat to Jurgen Klopp’s men. NOTE: Liverpool and Manchester City are the only club still unbeaten in the Premier League this season after Chelsea were torn apart by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday night.
Manchester United is certainly not in a good form right now. Mourinho’s were only able to earn just a single point from three Premier League matches against Man City, Tottenham, and Chelsea. Making the top four this season will be very difficult task for the club if they continue to play int this manner.
The team appears to be in crisis right now. More disturbing for the club is lack of goals from their forward players. In 13 matches, Romelu Lukaku (who last scored in September) and co’s, have only provided 20 goals while their arch-rivals have amassed an impressive 40 goals in 13 league matches.
Judging from a Manchester United perspective, their upcoming fixtures doesn’t look a real threatening one but judging by their performances so far, they could be seeing their beloved rocking 10th on the Premier League table.