Manchester United moved closer to the Champions League places in the Premier League this week as they capitalised on Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to beat Brentford (2-2). The Red Devils were three points behind Spurs with a game in hand at the World Cup break but the gap has now been reduced to a solitary point after their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The club now have their top-four destiny in their own hands with the betting spread on United finishing in the top four favouring the Reds. However, there is a long way to go before they will be guaranteed Champions League football. Spurs can’t be underestimated despite their patchy form, considering they have two world-class strikers in Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.
On the other hand, Chelsea and Liverpool are bound to improve in the second half of the top-flight campaign. The pair are underway with the process of bringing in new players in January and they are unlikely to give up on a top-four place in the Premier League without a fight.
Hence, United have a tough road ahead to finish in the top four and much could depend on how they fare away from home. The Red Devils have dropped just two points at Old Trafford since the opening day defeat at Brighton, beating the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, their away form has been indifferent with 10 points dropped until now. United were truly outclassed by Manchester City on the road, but heavy defeats to Brentford and Aston Villa are unjustifiable. United must avoid such losses if they want to stay in the top-four hunt.
The Red Devils also need to spend on a new striker in January to boost their top-four prospects. Chelsea and Liverpool have already signed David Datro Fofana and Cody Gakpo respectively to bolster their attacks and there could be further spending during the winter transfer window.
The same could be the case for Newcastle United. The Magpies have been one of the surprise packages of this season and they are currently third in the standings, four points ahead of United, having played a game more. They are also expected to invest in January and United should not be left behind.
In our view, Arsenal and Manchester City seem well placed to finish in the top two positions and it could be between Newcastle, United, Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool for the remaining two Champions League spots. United have momentum in their favour but need to add more quality to their ranks.
A new striker should be an utmost priority after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last month. A right-back and a creative midfielder are other requirements for the club, though that may depend on how much is available to spend. Even if they are looking at the loan market, United must pursue a marquee player that can make a difference in their pursuit of the top four.
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