Gary Neville predicts Man Utd top-four finish but warns they aren't 'clear favourites' after Everton win

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has admitted that he can see Manchester United finishing inside the Premier League top four after Monday’s result against Everton.

Chelsea dropped out of the top four and the Red Devils climbed to fifth place after Manchester United’s hard-fought win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

What is your message to Michael Carrick after the win vs Everton?

Michael Carrick’s men returned to Premier League action after a 13-day period and Man Utd and Everton played out an uneventful 0-0 first half on Monday evening.

However, the real impact was made in the second half after striker Benjamin Sesko came off the bench and netted a superb opener – and eventual winner – for United.

READ MORE: Tuchel vs Carrick: I think Gary Neville’s obsession with elite managers ignores Man Utd transformation we’ve seen

Gary Neville identifies where he thinks Man Utd will exactly finish in the Premier League top four

Manchester United are now three points clear of fifth-place Chelsea and three points behind third-place Aston Villa, with only 11 Premier League matches now remaining.

The Red Devils have had a scintillating run of form under United legend Michael Carrick, who returned to Old Trafford in January as part of his interim appointment.

More United News

United won five of their six Premier League matches under Carrick, with the Red Devils only dropping points to West Ham at the London Stadium earlier this month.

Red Devils legend Gary Neville now thinks that United could end up ahead of Villa and sign off their 2025-26 Premier League season with a third-place finish.

With Ruben Amorim SACKED, where will Manchester United finish in 2025/26?

Let's see your predictions!

“I think they could finish third, I really do think they could finish third,” he said on The Gary Neville Podcast, as per Sky Sports.

“I said a couple of weeks ago, I thought Villa might just get pulled back a little bit.

“These teams have got European football in front of them and that’s a big distraction. Manchester United don’t have that and I think they’re in a decent place.

“You look at the players out there, they go over to celebrate, they look like they’re in a decent sort of mood.

“They’re winning when they play well, they’re winning when they don’t play well, they’re picking up a point when they didn’t play well at West Ham, so all the right things are starting to happen.

“They’ve hit a really good run. I do think they’ll finish third or fourth.”

READ MORE: The Michael Carrick effect: Jamie Carragher now ‘virtually’ convinced his Man Utd prediction will come to fruition

Gary Neville on Man Utd challenging for the Champions League amid the race for the Premier League top four

United have not played any European football this season and the Red Devils have collapsed to a 40-match campaign after early FA Cup and Carabao Cup exits as well.

Neville insisted that it would be a major achievement if former Man Utd and England teammate Carrick could secure Champions League football for the Red Devils.

Who was your Man Utd MAN OF THE MATCH vs Everton?

Let us know why!

“I think it’d be a big move to get into Champions League, considering where they were a few weeks ago, obviously when they sack a manager and you don’t think for the life of you that they can go and beat Arsenal and Manchester City and everyone else that they’ve beaten in this last few weeks,” he added.

“It’s been an incredible points total that’s been pulled together. And I think they’re now, I won’t say clear favourites to finish in the top four, but they are in pole position.”

United will now return to Premier League action on Sunday, with the Red Devils’ first match in March being against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

Click here to read article