Can Jose Mourinho find a solution to Manchester United's wastefulness? 

It feels peculiar that sixth-placed Manchester United have not lost in the Premier League since October. That's probably because during those six months a number of their 10 top-flight draws have felt like defeats. They've drawn a total of 12 times in the league this season, with a staggering nine of those coming at Old Trafford. The stalemates have been put down to wasteful and/or unlucky finishing. Perhaps, though, there's a deeper layer to this: Jose Mourinho's players are not completely at ease in that split second of striking or heading the ball goalwards because maybe at the back of their minds they fear their manager's ire.

Mourinho has not been shy in hanging certain United players out to dry this campaign, with left-back Luke Shaw the latest to feel his wrath. Footballers, of course, should not be mollycoddled and free of any sort of criticism, but when results are not going a side's way for the same profligate reason then certainly something needs to change. "... I could feel some of the boys a bit in trouble by the confidence levels," Mourinho said after his team's late 1-1 draw with Everton. Fortunately for United they face a Sunderland side on Sunday with arguably the most-crushed confidence in the division, and it's also away from home. Football might be a peculiar beast but surely Sunderland's David Moyes is in for yet more misery.

Are Manchester City in danger of missing out on the top four?

Manchester City's run of four Premier League games without a win has thrown some doubt over their ability to qualify for next season's Champions League. Granted, they've faced Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but their failure to beat any of their rivals only further exacerbated their disappointing 0-0 draw with Stoke heading into that sequence. Pep Guardiola's side are fourth and four points above Arsenal and United, who both have a game in hand. Previously, a home game with Hull on Saturday would have been as an ideal fixture to get back on track, but new manager Marco Silva has overseen an upturn in form. Although there is still work to be done on the road, for all seven of his wins in charge have come at the KCOM Stadium.

Will Liverpool's sloppiness be their undoing in the run-in?

For most clubs, having played all of your rivals home and away heading into the final seven games of the season would be a good thing. For Liverpool, it's not. To his credit, manager Jurgen Klopp has overseen a fine record against heavyweights: They've played 25, won 13, drawn 11 and lost one. But, as their 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday reiterated, they struggle to deliver against so-called smaller opponents. Hence, something needs to change for their run-in if they are going to return to the Champions League next season. "That made me actually nearly vomit," Klopp said of Bournemouth's late leveller. He then vowed to "find a solution for this," preferring not to lambast his players' shocking defending. It's Stoke next for Liverpool, a side out of sorts with no wins in their previous four and just one goal scored in that time.

Just how impressive a job has Mauricio Pochettino done at Tottenham?

It was not long ago that Tottenham used to be a laughing stock. Such was their fragility that the adjective "Spursy" was coined when referencing an act of bottling a scenario. How things have changed under manager Mauricio Pochettino. The new "Spursy" is perhaps the exact opposite of the old. Take Wednesday night's trip to Swansea City when Tottenham trailed 1-0 up until the 88th minute. Then BAM! Three goals later and Pochettino's men remain seven points off leaders Chelsea. The Premier League title is probably beyond their reach, but for a second campaign running it is Spurs who are pushing the front-runners the hardest. Tottenham host Watford on Saturday looking to make it six consecutive Premier League victories.

Who will emerge victorious from West Ham and Swansea's six-pointer?

"It's a massive game against Swansea on Saturday. We are in a fight to keep our Premier League status." Couldn't have put it better myself, Slaven Bilic. West Ham United are in a lot of trouble. Lose at home to Swansea this weekend and they will be just two points above their Welsh opponents, who currently reside in the relegation zone. West Ham's 3-0 loss at Arsenal in midweek was their fifth on the spin, further ramping up the possibility of the team who finished seventh last season being relegated this time around -- not to mention during their debut season at their new stadium. As for Swansea, the new manager bounce from Paul Clement's appointment in January seems to be wearing off, with one win mustered in their past six.