Jamie Carragher has made his predictions for the final standings in the Premier League, with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United very much in the hunt for a top-four finish
The progress that Manchester United are making under Erik ten Hag is beginning to worry Liverpool fan Jamie Carragher.
United are third in the Premier League following their 2-2 draw against Leeds on Wednesday night. They are 16 games unbeaten at Old Trafford in all competitions and remain with a chance of winning a first piece of silverware in six years in the Europa League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup or Premier League.
Backed by significant spending in the summer transfer window, Ten Hag has implemented a clear playing style. And while he doesn’t think they will threaten for the Premier League title this season, Carragher is concerned United are building towards something.
“It does feel different to me under Erik ten Hag,” he said on The Overlap. “I always felt there was a negativity around the previous managers.
“With Jose Mourinho it felt like there were problems between him and the board. With Louis van Gaal, I’m not sure the fans were ever on board with his style of football. And with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer], no one ever thought he would be a manager who could win United a title.
“But now it feels like they’ve got a manager who knows what he’s doing. Also, it feels like there’s a spirit at United that we haven’t seen for a while. It feels like that’s coming back. I think there’s something happening at Manchester United that I didn’t see with those other managers. So it’s a worry, yeah!”
Erik ten Hag has got Jamie Carragher worried ( Image: Getty Images)
Carragher believes that the current top four will remain in their positions when the season comes to an end on May 28. That means he is backing Arsenal to hold off Manchester City and win the title for the first time since Arsene Wenger ’s famous Invincibles side in 2004.
They will finish ahead of City in second, United in third and Newcastle in fourth, with Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool all missing out on a place in the top four.
“I’ve tipped them for the title because I’m not sure Man City can get back to their best,” Carragher explained. “The longer Man City are like this, the more breathing space Arsenal have got. That buffer Arsenal have right now is quite sizable. I think they will hold on.
Mikel Arteta will lead Arsenal to the Premier League title, according to Jamie Carragher ( Image: Getty Images)
“You don’t look at City and think they’re going to win every game. It doesn’t feel like they’re quite there right now. Arsenal are in a really good position.”
Mikel Arteta is Carragher’s manager of the season and will hold off City, despite them having the Golden Boot winner in waiting, Erling Haaland. Carragher has tipped bottom two Southampton and Bournemouth to be joined by currently managerless Leeds for relegation.
Arsenal are five points clear of City with a game in hand. Both clubs suffered defeat on the weekend, with the Gunners surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Everton in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge, while City fell to Spurs by the same score line.
Source: mirror.co.uk
