Manchester United looked fully there in the race for the Premier League title a few game weeks back but they have won just one out of their last four Premier League matches and that includes a loss against Sheffield United as well.
Moreover, they dropped crucial points in their 3-3 draw against Everton a couple of days back. Manchester City’s thrashing of Liverpool after that meant the Red Devils fell five points behind their City rivals and League leaders Manchester City in the Premier League table. Moreover, they have played a game more than City as well.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville agreed that it was too early to talk about the title considering their recent form.
“They’re not there yet, I know it’s disappointing, but it isn’t surprising. I think they’re on the right track,” Neville said speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast.
“It has been clear in the last few weeks. Drawing against Arsenal, drawing against Liverpool, losing against Sheffield United, drawing against Everton, that is not going to win you the title. And for me, I don’t expect Manchester United to win the title this year.
“But what I would expect is them to get closer to Liverpool and City and then I expect them next year to challenge.
“I expect them next year to challenge [but I] don’t expect that there will be that centre-back in the club. Maybe another full-back. The goalkeeper situation as well that needs monitoring, no doubt, right-winger will be interesting and centre-forward, depending on how [Mason] Greenwood settles in this last few months of this season.”
Neville, however, was happy with Manchester United’s performance against Everton as he believed it was better than many of the other matches earlier in the season, which received higher points tally.
“I was at the game at Old Trafford on Saturday, and I’ve walked away from games this season where Manchester United have won. West Ham away, or games of that ilk, and thought ‘what was that’? I came away from the game on Saturday thinking it was a really good performance. Things looked like they were really connected, they looked like they were in sync with one another,” he said.
“Credit to Everton for keeping going but it was a bizarre end to the game. But it was a real disappointment for Manchester United because I’ve seen them play it a lot worse than that, a lot of times this season, and yet come out winners.”
