Let’s go for it, urges Young

London – Ashley Young has challenged Manchester United to storm to the finish line in the race to make the Premier League’s top four, while Liverpool aim to take another step towards the Champions League.

With leaders Chelsea and second-placed Tottenham clashing in the FA Cup semifinals, the fight for Premier League supremacy is on hold until next week, but there is still plenty at stake in this weekend’s fixtures.

Significantly, the other FA Cup semifinal features Arsenal and Manchester City and their leave of absence in the league means United have a golden opportunity to close the gap on the top four.

Jose Mourinho’s fifth-placed side breathed new life into their Champions League push with an impressive 2-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend and a win at Burnley tomorrow would leave them only one point behind fourth-placed City.

Despite a series of spluttering performances at Old Trafford, Mourinho’s men are unbeaten in their last 22 league games and United winger Young is confident a return to Europe’s elite club competition after a one-year absence is well within their reach.

They can also reach that goal by winning the Europa League after making the semifinals on Thursday.

“We have belief in ourselves. I have confidence in every single player. There is great competition in the squad,” Young said.

Liverpool are one of the teams United hope to catch, but their bitter rivals show no signs of slipping despite a growing injury list.

Fuelled by the superb form of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, Juergen Klopp’s thirdplaced side have won five times during a seven-match unbeaten run.

A victory over resurgent Crystal Palace at Anfield tomorrow would allow Liverpool to retain at least a six-point lead over fifth place.

As well as Coutinho and Firmino have played, Liverpool have also been indebted to Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (above), who kept his first clean sheet in almost two months in last weekend’s 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.