Top-four race now in United's hands

Manchester United will finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League if the Reds can win the remaining two games away to West Ham United and at home to Bournemouth.

That mathematical certainty was made possible on Sunday afternoon when rivals Manchester City, the current occupants of fourth place, dropped two points at home to Arsenal. The Blues were looking to bounce back after bowing out of the Champions League semi-finals in midweek but their hopes of qualifying for next season's competition were dealt a huge blow by Arsene Wenger's side.

Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez scored an equaliser in each half for the Gunners to wipe out the slender leads given to City by Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne and ensure a thrilling match at the Etihad Stadium ended 2-2.

The result leaves the Blues just two points ahead of United, who can now leapfrog Manuel Pellegrini's men into fourth spot by beating West Ham on Tuesday night in the final competitive match at Upton Park. The Reds could then seal the deal by defeating Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday 15 May, regardless of what City do in their final game away to Swansea City. The Swans won their penultimate game in style this weekend, winning 4-1 at West Ham to all but kill off the Hammers' own aspirations of a top-four finish.

In Sunday's other fixtures, second-placed Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 at home to Southampton and Liverpool defeated Watford 2-0 at Anfield.