The battle for Champions League places is still a "rat race" with eight games of the Premier League season left, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said on Friday.

United have beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in their last two games, producing their best form of the season to consolidate fourth place in the table, five points ahead of the chasing pack.

They host Aston Villa on Saturday and, with matches against the top three sides to come before the end of the season, United cannot afford to drop points against a side who are 16th in the table, three points clear of the relegation zone.

"The top four is still a rat race," Van Gaal told a news conference.