BT Sport pundits in agreement over top four predictions after Man Utd defeat
Rio Ferdinand claims he will be "very surprised" if Manchester United fail to finish in the Premier League's top four this season.
Erik ten Hag's side lost 1-0 to West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday evening after David de Gea let in Said Benrahma's tame effort. The result leaves Man Utd fourth in the Premier League table, just a point ahead of Liverpool in fifth with a game in hand.
The Red Devils are now in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification, but Ferdinand believes they will cling on to fourth spot. Fellow BT Sport pundits Peter Crouch and Joe Cole have also backed Ten Hag's players to creep over the finish line.
"The [Man Utd] players have to set the tone," Ferdinand told BT Sport after Sunday evening's game. "They haven’t been good enough in recent weeks and they’ve not closed games out. They’ve got to change that right now. This Liverpool are hot on their heels and I don’t think Liverpool are gonna lose any of their games.
"I think Liverpool will win all of their last three games to put the pressure on but I think Man Utd will probably just do enough to get in the top four, I’d be very surprised if they don’t."
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Man Utd were perhaps fortunate not to lose by a greater margin at the London Stadium, as referee Peter Bankes failed to penalise Victor Lindelof for handling in the box. West Ham also had a second-half goal disallowed for a soft foul on De Gea.
Peter Crouch, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand have discussed the top four race (BT Sport)Who do you think will finish in the top four? Let us know in the comments below!
United have four Premier League games remaining, starting with their clash against Wolves at Old Trafford in six days' time. They travel to Bournemouth after that before finishing the campaign with two home games against Chelsea and Fulham.
United's run-in is relatively comfortable, but so is Liverpool's. Jurgen Klopp's side face Leicester (away), Aston Villa (home) and Southampton (away) before the end of the season. Like Ferdinand, Crouch believes the Liverpool will win all of their remaining games.
Crouch added: "I do [think Liverpool will win all three games]. They’ve given themselves a great chance a few months ago you’d have said Liverpool were out of the race. They’ve put themselves back in the equation and that’s all they can do. I agree with Rio, I think Liverpool will win those games but United will do just enough. I see United just hanging on."
The other two teams realistically targeting a top-four spot are Newcastle and Brighton. Eddie Howe's side are third in the table, three points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. They need seven points from their final four games against Leeds (away), Brighton (home), Leicester (home) and Chelsea (away).
As for Brighton, they are in seventh - eight points behind Man Utd with two games in hand. As well as Newcastle, Roberto De Zerbi's team still need to play Everton (home), Arsenal (away), Southampton (home), Manchester City (home) and Aston Villa (away).
Cole believes Man Utd will hang on to fourth because of their three home games. Ferdinand added: "They’re lucky they’ve got three of their four games at home because their away form has been terrible."
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