Manchester United face two of their top-four rivals in the next five Premier League matches as the battle to secure a place in the Champions League intensifies

Manchester United strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League return after sweeping aside top-four rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Casemiro gave the Reds the lead just after half-time but Villa responded to equalise through Ross Barkley. However, Michael Carrick’s side showed character to go back in front as Matheus Cunha found the net before Benjamin Sesko gave United a two-goal advantage late on to seal a crucial three points.

The result has kept United in third, three points above fourth-place Aston Villa and Liverpool in fifth, and six points ahead of Chelsea in sixth. As England are expected to have an additional spot in the Champions League for next season, United need a maximum of 18 points from their remaining eight matches to secure a top five finish.

And a win against Bournemouth on Friday would give them a nine-point buffer above sixth place heading into the rest of next weekend’s Premier League fixtures. And with that in mind, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at United’s next five top-flight matches compared to their rivals in the race for the Champions League…

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Manchester United next five fixtures

Bournemouth (A) – March 20, 8pm kick-off

Leeds (H) – April 13, 8pm kick-off

Chelsea (A) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brentford (H) – April 27, 8pm kick-off

Liverpool (H) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Aston Villa next five fixtures

West Ham (H) – March 22, 2.15pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (A) – April 11, 3pm kick-off

Sunderland (H) – April 18, 3pm kick-off

Fulham (A) – April 25, 12.30pm kick-off

Tottenham (H), May 2, TBC kick-off

Liverpool next five fixtures

Brighton (A) – March 21, 12.30pm kick-off

Fulham (H) – April 11, 5.30pm kick-off

Everton (A) – April 19, 2pm kick-off

Crystal Palace (H) – April 25, 3pm kick-off

Man United (A) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Chelsea next five fixtures

Everton (A) – March 21, 5.30pm kick-off

Man City (H) – April 12, 4.30pm kick-off

Man United (H) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brighton (A) – April 26, 4.30pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (H) – May 2, 3pm kick-off

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Iranian media said on Sunday that the captain of the women’s soccer team had rescinded her asylum application in Australia and would return to her home country.

Zahra Ghanbari will head from Australia to Malaysia and from there fly back to Iran, Tehran’s official IRNA news agency said.

IRNA said Ghanbari, who is also Iran’s all-time top female goal scorer, would now return “to the warm embrace of the homeland.”

But activists in Australia have voiced concern that the women and their families could face political persecution back in Iran after a recent government crackdown and amid an ongoing war.

5 Iranian team members rescind decision

Seven members members of the women’s soccer delegation had initially claimed asylum after they were eliminated 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosted in Australia.

The players had been in the spotlight after declining to sing Iran’s national anthem at their first match — a move which led them to be branded as “wartime traitors” by some conservative commentators at home.

At their next two games, the team saluted during the national anthem, leading to speculation that they had been pressured into doing so.

Amid increasing public attention and media speculation about the women’s welfare under the watch of their minders, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke personally granted humanitarian visas to six players and one members of the team’s staff.

Last week, one player announced she had changed her mind, followed by two other players and the technical staff member, who also left on Saturday.

Ghanbari is reportedly the fifth member of the group to change her mind, leaving just two who are set to remain in Australia.

It was not clear why each individual changed their mind.

The rest of the team is currently in a hotel in Malaysia awaiting their onward travel to Iran.

Australia did ‘everything we could’

Australia’s home affairs minister confirmed the initial news that some of the group had changed their minds and would return to Iran.

“The Australian government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia,” Burke said.

“Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s governing football body accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to defect from their home country. The Iranian Sports Ministry accused Australia of “playing in Trump’s field.”

Edited by: Alex Berry

Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera has revealed his top five pound-for-pound fighters, making it clear who he believes sits firmly at number one.

It is generally accepted that two-division undisputed champions Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue are the crème de la crème, given their utter dominance across multiple weight classes.

Usyk, in particular, has claimed a series of monumental victories against the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, establishing himself as the greatest heavyweight of this era.

Inoue, too, has removed any doubt over his supremacy at 122lbs, where he will defend his undisputed crown against Junto Nakatani on May 2.

But while there is little debate to be had about Usyk and Inoue’s placement on any pound-for-pound list, the remaining spots are of course far more subjective.

Largely because of his dominant unanimous decision victory over Teofimo Lopez in January, many feel that Shakur Stevenson deserves a place in the top five.

According to Barrera, though, Usyk takes top spot ahead of Inoue with Dmitry Bivol, Jesse Rodriguez and Canelo Alvarez filling the other spaces.

“Number one Usyk.

Number two Inoue; number three Bivol; number four ‘Bam’ Rodriguez; number five, I think, [is] Canelo Alvarez.”

Bivol became the undisputed light-heavyweight king in February 2025, exacting his revenge over Artur Beterbiev by scoring a career-defining majority decision victory.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, has taken the lower divisions by storm in recent years, perhaps most notably defeating Sunny Edwards and Juan Francisco Estrada in 2024.

As for Canelo, it has become harder to justify his place in the top five since the Mexican lost to Terence Crawford, who moved up two weight divisions and secured a unanimous decision victory in September.

The Minnesota Vikings had a mountain to climb before the start of the new league year earlier this week. After an offseason of lavish spending, Rob Brzezinski needed to clear nearly $50 million in cap space, and that led to some tough decisions.

Obviously, the Vikings cap czar got the job done, but there’s been very little movement since. The Kyler Murray splash is exciting, but the bill is just $1.3 million. James Pierre was the only other free agent Minnesota has brought in, and they sit in the doldrums when it comes to spending money for 2026.

Minnesota’s Quiet Free-Agency Approach Raises a Bigger Question

It’s not as though Minnesota is flush with cap space. At this point, Spotrac has them sitting with just over $13 million in current room. They could further increase that spending power, and they are still engaged in discussions to trade for Jonathan Greenard. Moving him would open up a sizable chunk, but also immediately lean into Dallas Turner’s readiness to start.

Ultimately, though, things have gotten too quiet at the TCO Performance Center. Pierre and Murray are nice, but they clearly aren’t enough. The Vikings said goodbye to both of their starting interior defensive lineman. They could use another linebacker; they need a center, a punter, and a safety, all while depth on the roster is virtually non-existent.

It’s worth noting that Kevin O’Connell and company have nine draft picks to work with. They didn’t utilize those well while Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in charge, but there’s an opportunity for impact. Four of the picks fall within the first 100 selections. Each of those could be a day-one starter.

We saw last year that spending significantly doesn’t guarantee anything. Adofo-Mensah went that route, and the team finished just 9-8 while missing the playoffs. The Wilfs probably would like to recoup some of their losses from that spree a year ago, but they need to continue doing right by the current state of this roster.

The Vikings had to pivot at quarterback because they are constructed to win now. Justin Jefferson wasted a year watching poor quarterback play cost him an opportunity last year. It’s beyond believable that adding Murray fills a substantial gap, but he can’t be where things end.

This roster has the firepower to make things work in the NFC North. A competent quarterback is always scary in the playoffs. None of it will matter if there aren’t more free agent acquisitions coming, and the Vikings have really waited for the market to shake out.

Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler

Bryson DeChambeau bounced back from an embarrassing moment in the sand trap and a tense playoff hole to win LIV Singapore on Sunday – the fourth title in the Saudi-backed series of his career.

DeChambeau suffered the mistake in the third round. He was on hole No. 5 when he hit his ball from the rough, tripped and fell into the bunker all with giant insects flying around him. Unfortunately, his shot landed in a separate bunker on the other side of the course.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bryson DeChambeau reacts on the 18th green after the final round of Aramco LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Sentosa, Singapore. (Mateo Villalba/LIV Golf via AP)

He managed to record a bogey at the hole on his way to a third round 72.

DeChambeau bounced back in the fourth round, shooting a 66 and narrowly defeating Richard T. Lee in a playoff for the win. Lee missed a two-foot putt on his fifth shot that would have sent the tournament into a second playoff round.

It’s the first title for DeChambeau this season. He last won at LIV Golf Korea in May, defeating Charles Howell III by two strokes. He also has wins at LIV Golf Chicago and LIV Golf Greenbrier. It’s also his first victory in a 72-hole tournament since he won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024.

PAIGE SPIRANAC APPLAUDS COMMENTER FOR LEWD REMARK THAT LIFTS HER SPIRITS

Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC reacts after his chip onto the fourth green during the final round of Aramco LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Sentosa, Singapore. (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via AP)

Lee was attempting to be the first wild card golfer, one who is not affiliated with a team, to win the singles competition. But his putt went left and spun around the cup.

“It was a short putt and I wanted to just hit it hard, and I hit it a little too hard,” Lee said. “I think the adrenaline was pumping a little bit.”

DeChambeau said it reminded him of John Daly narrowly missing out on defeating Tiger Woods at the World Golf Championships playoff in 2005.

“To actually see that happen in front of you, for you to be the positive receiving side of it, it’s just a weird feeling,” DeChambeau said. “But it’s a win and something I’ll appreciate for the rest of my life. Even if I lost today, I was still looking pretty good at my game. I was excited the way I was striking it coming in the last couple days.”

First place individual champion, Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC, holds the trophy after the final round of Aramco LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Sentosa, Singapore. (Mateo Villalba/LIV Golf via AP)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

DeChambeau is second in the LIV Golf standings behind Jon Rahm.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Casemiro scored Manchester United’s opening goal in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday and produced a cryptic celebration in the process

Casemiro pointed straight at the Manchester United badge when celebrating scoring his side’s opening goal in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

The Brazilian, who is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract in June, has been one of United’s outstanding performers this season and he impressed once again as the Reds beat Villa. Indeed, Casemiro, 34, was solid throughout and broke the deadlock for the Reds just after half-time.

In the 53rd minute, Bruno Fernandes’ floated corner was headed on by Casemiro and the ball bounced off the inside of the post and nested into the back of the net.

And as the five-time Champions League winner ran off to celebrate into North West corner, he pointed at the United badge on a number of occasions before pulling his finger to the side of his head and then in the direction of the jubilant supporters in the Stretford End.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Speaking after Casemiro’s goal, ex-United defender Gary Neville said on co-commentary for Sky Sports: “I said in the first half while they might replace him positionally in midfield, it’s going to be very difficult to replace him in both boxes because he is sensational at getting first contact on headers.

“And the badge is presented to the Stretford End by the Brazilian. He just gets up so early, it’s a brilliant, brilliant header. It’s a really good glance into that far corner, it couldn’t be any better in-off the post.”

Casemiro confirmed in January that he will leave United when his contract expires at the end of the season. He signed for the Reds in a £70million deal from Real Madrid in August 2022, and following a mixed first two years in Manchester, his form has improved tenfold across the last 18 months.

This season, Casemiro has stood out and his seven goals in 27 appearances is his joint-most prolific one to date in his professional club career. He is a threat in both boxes and showed that again for United against Villa.

But while United fans have just eight league matches left to see Casemiro in action for the Reds, there has been some talk that he could produce a U-Turn and sign a new contract.

And with Casemiro pointing straight at the United badge in his celebration could be a hint that he might still remain at the Reds following the 2025/26 season – something many Reds fans would be delighted about.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Unbeaten Gloucester-Hartpury came from behind to snatch a dramatic win over Saracens and return to the top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby table.

Alex Matthews grabbed a hat-trick, with the number eight’s third try in the closing stages clinching a bonus point for the defending champions at the Stone X Stadium.

Saracens were a player down for the last seven minutes after Marlie Packer was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

With four matches of their league campaign remaining, Gloucester’s victory put them four points clear of second-placed Saracens – who have played a game more – and secured home advantage in the semi-finals at the end of the season.

The hosts led 14-12 at the break following tries from Liv Apps and Emma Hardy, but could only add a Zoe Harrison penalty after the break despite playing with a strong breeze at their backs.

Apps raced in under the posts early on, but the scrum-half was substituted in the first half following a cut to the head.

Hardy finished off a superb Sarries move that started in their own half to put them ahead again, after Matthews had picked up off a scrum for the first of her treble.

Her second try was a repeat of her first, but her side trailed after Lleucu George missed her drop-kick conversion attempt, the ball having been blown off the kicking tee with the shot clock winding down.

Hannah Dallavalle’s try near the corner after 64 minutes put Gloucester ahead for the first time, before a Zoe Harrison penalty levelled the game at 17-17.

But Packer’s error, which she immediately acknowledged, put Saracens under mounting pressure and Matthews barged over from a ruck at close range for the try that secured a bonus point for the three-time champions.

Saracens were not done, though, and were threatening the try-line when Gloucester-Hartpury stole their throw in their own 22 with 80 minutes up on the clock.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese called out a fake quote that was posted on social media and attributed to her on Saturday.

The post on X attributed a quote to Reese that talked about how much money she earns in a week compared to those who earn in seven days. It appeared to be a slight toward Reese’s intelligence.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese warms up before a game against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena on Sept. 3, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

“Here we go again. Rent must be due,” she wrote in response.

Reese is set to enter the WNBA for her third season, though it’s unclear when the year will tip off as the players union and the league have yet to come to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.

For now, Reese is competing with Team USA in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying games. The Americans defeated Italy, 93-59, on Saturday. Reese had five points and seven rebounds in the victory.

She’s averaging 7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1 steal per game over the course of three qualifying games. She had six points against Senegal and 10 points against Puerto Rico.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese on the sidelines before a New York Liberty game at Wintrust Arena on Sept. 11, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

CAITLIN CLARK REJECTS ANGEL REESE HIGH-FIVE AT FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Reese entered the WNBA in 2024 as the Sky selected her with the No. 7 overall pick of the draft. She’s been an All-Star in each of her first two seasons. She’s averaging 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in 64 career games.

The clock is ticking on a new CBA deal to get done or the start of the 2026 season could be postponed.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said progress in negotiations and a deal are needed by Monday to avoid any possible disruptions.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese watches an NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic at United Center on Jan. 2, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“I’ve never been a betting woman in my life and I’m not going to start now. But we have to get a deal done by Monday,” Engelbert said Friday. “We have to get it done without disrupting some part of the fact that we’ve got to run this two-team expansion (draft). We have to get expansion going. We got to get free agency going. We gotta get the college draft.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.