Former captain Gary Neville believes Manchester United have a "great chance" of achieving a top-four finish this season following Sunday's narrow 1-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford, fresh from being restored to the starting line-up after starting Thursday night's 3-0 Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol on the bench, netted the only goal of the game to settle a scrappy contest in M16. The England international rose highest inside the penalty area to power home Christian Eriksen's expert delivery and claim his 100th goal for the club.
Although his header proved to be enough to help United scoop maximum points for the second Premier League home game running, they had goalkeeper David de Gea to thank for keeping their lead intact. The Spaniard produced some stunning stops in the second half, with Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice both denied.
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The win, which was United's third in their last five league outings, saw them move above Chelsea and into fifth, leaving them just a point behind fourth-placed Newcastle United. And although there is still a long way to go this term, Neville believes Erik ten Hag's side are in a strong position to bag a Champions League place for next season.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, said: "I think they've got a great chance of finishing in the top four now. A great chance.
"I think there's enough around Chelsea, enough around Liverpool and enough around Tottenham for United to feel confident that they can really push through that bunch. I never would have thought that four or five weeks ago."
Although Neville is growing in confidence about United's top-four credentials, he has warned of a potential pitfall where the Reds might struggle against their rivals. He believes they have the "weakest" crop of forwards of those hunting a Champions League berth.
"You look at United's front players at the moment and compare them with Son [Heung-min],[Harry] Kane, Liverpool's front-three, City's front-three and Chelsea with [Raheem] Sterling and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, United have probably got the weakest front players at this moment in time.
"But they have got something, to be fair, that is happening with Erik ten Hag that, to be fair, is giving them a great spirit."
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