Man. United’s Daley Blind (right) runs behind Mesut Ozil, of Arsenal, during the FA Cup match at Old Trafford earlier this week.

With ten matches to go for the end of the season, the fight for the championship crown and Champions League places in England is hotting up.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among those teams vying for a top-four finish. The two contenders clash at Old Trafford tomorrow.

At present, sixth-placed Tottenham are only three points behind United who are in fourth place.

Wayne Rooney’s burning desire to lead from the front has rubbed on other players in their attempt to keep the owners happy and return to Champions League football. However, United suffered a setback this week when they were bundled out of the FA Cup by Arsenal.

At Tottenham, manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his players are forging special connections with the supporters.

Harry Kane is now the third highest goalscorer in Europe’s top five leagues with only La Liga greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ahead of the Spurs’ star.

Kane is likely to earn an England call-up this month. But he is putting that prospect to the back of his mind, such is the striker’s determination to propel Tottenham forward.

In the last ten matches between United and Tottenham in the Premier League at Old Trafford, the home side have won six times to the Londoners’ two.

2014: Man. United-Spurs - 1-2
2012: Man. United-Spurs - 2-3
2011: Man. United-Spurs - 3-0
2010: Man. United-Spurs - 2-0
2010: Man. United-Spurs - 3-1
2009: Man. United-Spurs - 5-2
2007: Man. United-Spurs - 1-0
2006: Man. United-Spurs - 1-0
2005: Man. United-Spurs - 1-1
2005: Man. United-Spurs - 0-0

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea entertain Southampton who won at home to Crystal Palace earlier this month after three matches without a win.

On Wednesday, Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League by Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain.

Jose Mourinho has now turned his attentions on the Premier League and wants the Chelsea board to give ironman Branislav Ivanovic a longer contract.

Champions Manchester City will be on their travels, visiting Turf Moor to play guests to relegation-troubled Burnley.

This week, Wilfried Bony said he was confident of resuming his regular goalscoring form once he settles in at Manchester City.

Meanwhile, City have signed young teenage forward JadonSancho from Watford in a £500,000 deal, beating Liverpool to the 14-year-old’s signature.

A London derby is scheduled for the Emirates Stadium this afternoon as Arsenal play West Ham.

This season, Francis Coquelin has emerged as one of Arsenal’s standout performers after returning from a loan-spell at Championship side Charlton Athletic in December.

The 23-year-old Frenchman had been on the periphery for some time and was loaned to the Addicks in order to gain first-team football.

However, following injuries to the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta, he was recalled to north London after just five games.

On Monday, Liverpool continue with their quest for a top-four finish with a visit to Swansea.

After the home draw against Blackburn in the FA Cup fifth round, Brendan Rodgers admitted he was happy his Liverpool side were still in the competition.

Earlier in the season, Emre Can was being written off but for the last two months he has been terrific at centre-half for the Reds.

Everton, having come close to the relegation trap door, have high hopes that their fortunes will alter against Newcastle as new Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood, having seen his side beat West Brom twice this month (in cup and league), looks to have inspired the Villains to higher levels since taking over from Paul Lambert.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League
Arsenal-West Ham - 1
Burnley-Man. City (18:30) - 2
Crystal Palace-QPR (13:45) - X
Leicester City-Hull City - 1
Sunderland-Aston Villa - X
West Brom-Stoke City - X

Tomorrow:
Chelsea-S’thampton (14:30) - 1
Everton-Newcastle (17:00) - 1
Man. Utd-Tottenham (17:00) - 1

Monday:
Swansea-Liverpool (21:00) - 2

Standings: Chelsea 63; Manchester City 58; Arsenal 54; Manchester United 53; Liverpool 51; Tottenham 50; Southampton 49; Stoke 42; Swansea City 40; West Ham United 39; Newcastle United 35; Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion 30; Everton 28; Hull City 27; Sunderland 26; Aston Villa 25; Queens Park Rangers, Burnley 22; Leicester City18.

The Championship
Birmingham-Huddersfield - 1
Bolton-Millwall - 1
Bournemouth-Blackpool - 1
Brentford-Cardiff - 1
Brighton-Wolves - 1
Charlton-Blackburn - X
Leeds-Nottm Forest - X
M’boro-Ipswich (13:15) - 1
Norwich-Derby - 1
Rotherham-Wigan - X
Sheffield Wed.-Fulham - 1
Watford-Reading - 1

League One
Bristol City-Gillingham - 1
Chesterfield-Coventry - 1
Colchester-Crawley - 1
Doncaster-Peterborough - 1
Fleetwood-Rochdale - 1
Leyton Orient-Yeovil - 1
Notts County-Bradford - X
Oldham-Barnsley - 1
Port Vale-Swindon - 2
Preston-Crewe - 1
Scunthorpe -Sheffield Utd - 2
Walsall-MK Dons - X

League Two
Burton-Accrington - 1
Cambridge-Stevenage - 2
Dagenham-Southend - X
Exeter-AFC Wimbledon - X
Mansfield-Bury - 2
Morecambe-Hartlepool - 1
Northampton-Tranmere - 1
Oxford-Plymouth - X
Portsmouth-Luton - 1
Wycombe-Shrewsbury - X
York-Carlisle - 1

Hot four
Arsenal, Brentford, Middlesbrough, Watford.