4 Must-Win Games for Manchester United to Seal Premier League Top-4 Spot

After Manchester United's FA Cup exit on Monday, achieving a top-four finish has taken on an even greater significance for Louis van Gaal and his team. 

With 10 games left, only four wins may well see United fall short of qualification. In addition to the four games listed, they probably also need to pick up results against Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at home and Hull City away. 

However, victories in the following games would deny points to key opponents.

Wins would also finally build faith that, after a long, challenging season, United could make some kind of impact on the Champions League next season should they get there.

Spurs at Old Trafford: 15 March

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Tottenham Hotspur's difficult start to the season seems a distant memory, largely thanks to the heartwarming goalscoring prowess of this season's feel-good story: Harry Kane. A local lad who clearly has strong feelings for the club, Kane's form has been crucial to Spurs' relative success. 

United need to bounce back from Monday's defeat to Arsenal and beat the Gunners' neighbours at Old Trafford on Sunday. A win for Spurs would bring them level on points with United and would be a disaster for the Red Devils' momentum, such as it is. 

A tough test—one United cannot afford to fail.

Liverpool at Anfield: 22 March

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Talking of tests United—and Van Gaal in particular—cannot afford to fail, a trip to Anfield is a must-win game regardless of the broader context. 

One thing Van Gaal clearly has over David Moyes is United's considerably improved performances against their rival clubs this time around. However, in light of Liverpool's resurgent form, much more than local pride is at stake in this one. 

Liverpool are two points behind United at the moment and top of the Premier League form table. United probably need Liverpool to start dropping some points, and what better way to ensure that than to beat them on their patch?

City at Old Trafford: 12 April

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The Manchester derby used to be a joy for those United fans who reveled in schadenfreude. How the tables have turned. Recent seasons have seen the "Noisy Neighbours" get the better of encounters far more often than not.

With the notable exception of Robin van Persie's late winner at the Etihad Stadium during Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge, the red half of Manchester has had little to cheer on derby day. 

This season needs to be different. City are second in the league but have not managed to mount a serious challenge to Chelsea's dominance. They have had their own struggles, and United should go into the game believing they can get one over their rivals. 

They may well need to.

Arsenal at Old Trafford: 16 May

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United lost to Arsenal for the first time since 2011 on Monday. They had not previously lost to the Gunners since 2008, and igniting a similar streak on 16 May could be crucial for Van Gaal.

Arsenal's recent form is such that they look likely to qualify for the Champions League yet again. However, with the correct results, this one could even be a direct decider for a Champions League place. 

Even if it is not, it is likely to remain a vital game for United, given how challenging the fixtures are between now and then. Revenge for the FA Cup defeat may be secondary to points in terms of United's concerns in May.