Aston Villa and Manchester United are both in strong positions to secure Champions League football next season as the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top five intensifies.

Unai Emery’s side are six points clear of Chelsea in sixth, while United sit one point ahead of them in third place with just seven matches remaining in the final two months of the campaign.

Liverpool and Chelsea both lost on the weekend before the March international break and are under huge pressure to turn their form around in the coming weeks, especially with a crucial meeting between the two scheduled for the third-last gameweek of the season.

We’ve asked writers covering the four teams at the forefront of the race for their verdicts...

Manchester United Writer (Manchester Evening News)

I have United finishing third. They are in the best form of the sides challenging for the top six and also a schedule that allows them plenty of rest. They have enough going for them to think they will continue as they have been under Carrick and get the job done for...