Jamie Carragher has warned Manchester United that Champions League qualification is not guaranteed and even had a cheeky dig at Gary Neville for his prediction about where they would finish in the Premier League table.
United still sit third in the standings, but losing 7-0 at Anfield and being held to a stalemate at home to Southampton this month means Newcastle United have now narrowed the gap to them. Only three points now separate Erik ten Hag's team and the side they beat in the Carabao Cup final, who are fifth.
Tottenham Hotspur occupy fourth place but have played one match more than both clubs directly above and below them. Liverpool are in sixth and find themselves five points further behind fifth after their defeat by Bournemouth last weekend.
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Asked about the top-four race after Newcastle's last-minute win over Nottingham Forest on Friday night, Carragher made clear that it is far from a foregone conclusion. "What that result does is it brings Manchester United into the pack in terms of the top four positions," the Carragher said on Sky Sports. "I think for a long time we've felt that Manchester United were guaranteed to be in the top four - Gary (Neville) even went as far to say they'd finish second - but now it looks like they're in a real fight to be in the top four, especially with Newcastle playing Manchester United next.
Neville, who stood beside Carragher the whole time, did not rise to the bait and instead offered his opinion on the outlook for United. "(Compared to) the clear run Newcastle have got to the end of the season, United progressing further in the FA Cup, progressing in the Europa League, makes it more difficult for them," he added.
"Plus, the fact they've got Casemiro suspended for the next four matches, we all know there's a big difference between United with and without Casemiro. So, from that point of view, Newcastle, now with those two wins, are in a position whereby they will have a real go at it.
"I still think Liverpool, Tottenham and United have got a little bit more experience, but Newcastle, if they start playing well again, this is the right time now to hit form with 10 or 11 games to go, but there is still a long way to go, 13 games before tonight, a third of the season. Eddie Howe won't be getting carried away, but he'll be much more confident after these last five or six days."
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