Jamie Redknapp backs Manchester United over Chelsea in top-four race

Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t Mirror), former Liverpool skipper Jamie Redknapp has backed Manchester United over Chelsea in the race for the top four.

The statement comes in light of the Blues’ tough run-in towards the end of the season. Frank Lampard’s side hold a slender two-point lead over United with five games to go.

“If you could have anyone’s fixtures there you’d probably choose Manchester United’s right now.

A slip could prove fatal, with United in excellent form. Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side are on a 16-match unbeaten run and do not look like stopping anytime soon.

Chelsea still have to play Sheffield United and defending champions Liverpool before ending the campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

United, on the other hand, have a tricky fixture against Southampton before ending the season against Leicester. If things go our way, we might as well be fighting with the Foxes for the third spot.

That is exactly where Redknapp believes we will finish. He has predicted us to finish third, followed by Chelsea, with Leicester finishing a disappointing fifth.

“I think it will be Manchester United, Chelsea and then Leicester.”

Given an option, it should be Chelsea who must miss out. The Blues have been proactive in signing players. With no Champions League on offer, it will be interesting to see how their business goes about.

If anything, it will also see another one of our rivals be left behind. Solskajer has done well to revive our fortunes since the loss at Liverpool. With the Champions League back on the table, the sky is the limit for the Norwegian.

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We also face off against Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals. United have already beaten Chelsea thrice this season. Incidentally, we also dumped them out of the FA Cup last season.