Manchester United’s record signing Angel Di Maria believes their final league position could be decided by their next few games, starting with Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
Louis van Gaal’s side are currently fourth and play Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester City in the three games after their trip to Anfield, with nine left to play overall.
Di Maria, returning from a one-match ban for Sunday’s game, said that United are aware of the importance of these pivotal fixtures.
“We are all aware that a number of big games are just around the corner, and the season will be decided by them,” the former Real Madrid winger told United’s matchday programme.
“We have been thinking and talking about these upcoming games for quite some time now.
“We’ve known that everything would be at stake over this final period of the season.”
If United lose at Anfield they will drop out of the Premier League’s top four for the first time since beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates on November 22.
But Di Maria is certain that United will achieve their goal of finishing in the top four and achieving European football in the process.
“Everyone at the club is 100% confident, we know we want to get back into the Champions League and that we want to be fighting it out,” the World Cup runner-up added.
“We’ll battle hard right to the end of the season. From what I know of the club, United always fight right to the end and that’s what we’re going to do.”
United go into this game on the back of their best performance of the season last weekend, a 3-0 home victory against Champions League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Liverpool have not lost in 13 league games since a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in December.
With just four points separating second place Man City and fifth place Liverpool, every point counts.
Victory could lift United to second, but they will have to win without the injured Robin van Persie.
Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva is also injured but former City striker Mario Balotelli is expected to recover from illness in time to play.
Main image courtesy of Sky Sports via YouTube, with thanks.
