Man Utd advantage about to be tested as Liverpool handed blow after Cristian Romero 'madness'

Liverpool finds itself five points behind Manchester United in the race for the Premier League's top four after Michael Carrick made it four wins out of four against Tottenham

Manchester United now sits five points clear of Liverpool in the race for the top four(Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United has extended its advantage over Liverpool in the top four race - although its biggest advantage could be about to be tested.

Michael Carrick made it four wins out of four as the Red Devils’ interim manager as United piled yet more misery on Tottenham boss Thomas Frank with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. The result means Liverpool now finds itself five points behind its biggest rival in the race for the Champions League places, with Manchester City visiting Anfield on Sunday.

United were helped on their way to victory by yet another red card for Spurs captain Cristian Romero, who was also sent off against Liverpool earlier in the season.

The Argentina international was given his marching orders after a dangerous challenge on Casemiro, having caught the Brazilian on his ankle in his follow-through, and now faces a four-game ban as a result of his second sending-off of the season.

"He definitely catches studs on ankle. It does look really painful. I don’t think he needs to follow through, I think it’s ridiculous,” TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist said.

"There’s a way he can challenge for the ball and win the ball, it’s madness. He’s just letting his teammates down again, he doesn’t need to do that."

Cristian Romero was sent off yet again for Tottenham against Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool certainly won’t be thanking Romero, with the defender having just made the Reds’ life a little harder ahead of the visit of City tomorrow.

Arne Slot's side will be aiming to cut the gap to United back down to two points against Pep Guardiola’s team, with one opportunity to move back into the top four having already disappeared.

The next chance could follow soon though, with a full set of midweek fixtures in the Premier League. That could provide Liverpool with some hope, with United in the unfamiliar situation of having an extra game to contend with over the next seven days.

Having not qualified for Europe last season, and having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at the first hurdles, United only has league games to deal until the end of the campaign, which Paul Merson sees as a major advantage compared to Liverpool and Chelsea.

“At the moment, I would say Manchester United are the big favourites to finish in the top five. That win over Fulham was a huge result,” Merson told Sportskeeda.

“They only play once a week as well, which is a huge advantage compared to Liverpool and Chelsea. So I would have to call them favourites even though it’s still very tight.”

Carrick takes his side to West Ham on Tuesday in what is one of the few midweek tests his side will have to undergo before the end of the season, while Liverpool heads to Sunderland on Wednesday.

If the Reds are to overhaul their rivals, they may have to hope that United are undercooked for their trip to London, with the hopes of any slip-ups looking to be deteriorating with every game.