United set for tough Tottenham challenge

Out of the FA Cup and with Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, Manchester United's season reaches a pivotal stage in the Premier League on Sunday at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

United was knocked out of the Cup by Arsenal in the quarterfinals on Monday, a result which effectively ended its hopes of major silverware for the second season in a row.

Finishing in the top four and qualifying for Europe's top-tier competition is now considered essential but United's 10-game run to the end of the season also includes matches against Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Fourth-placed United, which has 53 points from 28 matches, holds a slender two-point advantage over resurgent Liverpool, while Spurs are a further point back in sixth.

Tottenham has won at Old Trafford the past two seasons having not previously tasted victory there since 1989 and it is unbeaten against United in their past five meetings.

The Manchester side can ill-afford another loss to Mauricio Pochettino's team but, after defeat by Arsenal exposed its much-discussed flaws, manager Louis van Gaal knows his side must recover quickly with a top-four finish at stake.

"All the players are very disappointed and that's logical," the Dutchman said after the Arsenal defeat. "We have to see how we recover from that.

"I can't say the motivation of the team was bad - it's always good. We showed fantastic fighting spirit again.

"This is a big blow for us but we are sportsmen so we have to recover."

Champion Manchester City travels to relegation-threatened Burnley in Saturday's late kickoff knowing it must not allow leader Chelsea to extend its five-point lead at the top.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side hosts Southampton on the back of its surprise Champions League defeat on away goals by Paris St. Germain at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Third-placed Arsenal welcomes London rival West Ham United to the Emirates on Saturday hoping to give itself a bit of breathing space from the teams battling it out for fourth.

Liverpool is the side to beat on current form, however, as Brendan Rodgers's team is unbeaten in the league since mid-December and is ready to pounce if United falters.

It travels to ninth-placed Swansea City on Monday, hoping to record its third win of the season against the Welsh side after beating it at Anfield in the league and League Cup.