Man Utd would have "snapped everybody's hand off" to have the chance to move two points off the top but "have not played" like title challengers, says Gary Neville.
United moved up to third - the first time they have occupied a Champions League-qualifying spot all season - with a 6-2 thrashing of Leeds at Old Trafford on Super Sunday, with a game in hand over second-placed Leicester and leaders Liverpool which could lift them within two points of the top of the table should they win.
Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports the result, and United's recent run of six wins from their last seven games, showed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could prove real title challengers this season, but Neville believes his former club still don't look like a side capable of competing for the Premier League trophy.
"For Manchester United it was about closing the gap, no one ever thought they would be in a position to go so close," he said on the Gary Neville podcast. "They're going to go second in the league if they can close that gap. It doesn't feel like Manchester United have played like that.
"There has been talk of the manager's job, going out of Europe was a big problem, the performances at times have been horrible.
"You just watch them and think there isn't a team emerging there who can challenge for the title. My gut feeling is to still say I don't think Manchester United are going to win the league.
"But I am surprised, it's bizarre where they are considering a couple of weeks ago you were thinking this could be difficult, a challenging period coming into Christmas, but it's looking a little bit rosier.
"Their form's really good. They're scoring goals, coming back in matches, today they've played well, it's a big game against Leicester on Boxing Day, but there's something not right.
"But then when you look at where they are in the league, and they can go two points behind Liverpool, if you'd said at the start of the season they'd be in a position to do that, coming into Christmas, you'd have snapped everyone's hands off."
Leeds thrashing 'the game we thought we'd see'
Manchester United had scored only three goals at Old Trafford in six home league games prior to demolishing Leeds on Sunday night, trebling their home scoring record in the process to record only their second win in Manchester this season.
Despite such a contrasting result and performance compared with the rest of their home season to date, United's day's work was no surprise to Neville, against a Leeds side who had already shipped 24 goals in 13 matches coming into the game.
"It was a game we thought we would see, I was excited waking up and thinking about it," he said. "I just thought Leeds would be perfect for Manchester United, I couldn't see how the players Manchester United have couldn't cause them big problems on the counter-attack.
"Not just on the counter-attack, they're good one-on-one. Martial, Rashford, Greenwood - or James as it was - fed by Fernandes, they were always going to create big chances, but it was McTominay who was outstanding in that first few minutes.
"He was like Keane and Scholes rolled into one. It was a breathtaking start. They were right at it from the first 20 seconds Manchester United. They were quick in the passing, running forward, really committed to scoring goals knowing they couldn't sit back and take this Leeds team on this way.
"We know they can be poor when they have to break teams down sometimes, teams can counter-attack on them, particularly at Old Trafford, but Leeds don't do that. The minute you get in behind them and can win the ball back, you're in serious business if you're Rashford."
Game_analyser
621
in attacking unit,united are one of the very best in the world,they lack only one world class defender to partner Maguire.lindolof is good but not good enough,i wish alabha choose United.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
495
They cant, let's be realistic. It looks like Liverpools year again. Do you know what separates a winning candidate from a challenger? Us challengers (Chelsea, United, Spurs, City) are relying on the other teams to lose. Winning candidates however such as Liverpool arent relying on others losses and instead just pushing forward. There isnt a team that rivals them at the moment, most teams just had an incredible bounce and United are having theirs now through till about late February or early March where theyll fall off too. Klopp is too consistent but that's what happens when your project is 2 or 3 years ahead if everyone else. Klopp started building when Jose was still in charge if us, it's been that long. Liverpool are way ahead in their development until next year no one gives them a proper challenge. It's a bit hard to even type this cos so many Liverpool fans are arrogant as heck. But its reality.
TanIsRed
397
I admit we aren't titles contender yet, but we do have world class attacking with pace only thing lacking is our defence and consistency. But the next match against Liverpool is vital if we can win and keep our consistency going there won't be any team stopping us from winning the EPL 21. let's hope for the best. Get Going Manchester United 💪 #NeverGiveUp #WeWillRiseAgain #WeAreUnited #ManchesterUnited
leubemnoz
209
In as much as Liverpool are more systematically ready to win the league it can come as a surprise that it would take something a lot simpler than that. Just getting good results goes a long way to ensure a title challenge. The term playing like champions is really overrated. The last team that played like champions was 2017/18 Man City and that's because no one knew how to play round their system which enabled them to boss every game. Now teams have become a lot better than they were three years ago and it may not even come down to having an absolute winning formula to win games because let's face it, this year has been full of surprises. You may come in with your winning formula and how to play to win and the other team will simply have other ideas and you'll draw the short end of the stick because you expected your winning formula to work and it simply didn't. I see this year as a year where every team will have to dig deep and play through to get every point they can to become champions. There are about 7 teams right now with the resources and mettle to mount a title push and non of them should be looked down on in this early stages. The ones below won't simply wait for all the teams to beat them up. Of course there are rare cases like Palace vs Liverpool but it would continually be a rarity to see such results. When it comes down to it. The big teams won't just go to the so called smaller teams and just take points, they'll have to earn them and that presents opportunities for slip ups which the other top teams can capitalise on.
tumukundebazirapoel1
11
in attacking unit,united are one of the very best in the world,they lack only one world class defender to partner Maguire.lindolof is good but not good enough,i wish alabha choose United.
For yo info, Maguire made Lindelof poor n I’d choose Lindelof over Maguire.
rahadiktuy
8
They cant, let's be realistic. It looks like Liverpools year again. Do you know what separates a winning candidate from a challenger? Us challengers (Chelsea, United, Spurs, City) are relying on the other teams to lose. Winning candidates however such as Liverpool arent relying on others losses and instead just pushing forward. There isnt a team that rivals them at the moment, most teams just had an incredible bounce and United are having theirs now through till about late February or early March where theyll fall off too. Klopp is too consistent but that's what happens when your project is 2 or 3 years ahead if everyone else. Klopp started building when Jose was still in charge if us, it's been that long. Liverpool are way ahead in their development until next year no one gives them a proper challenge. It's a bit hard to even type this cos so many Liverpool fans are arrogant as heck. But its reality.
That's an astute and honest assessment, respect you for that. Though the part about Liverpool fans being arrogant, if you have been heckled for 30 years, you would be too. Just not too long ago Chelsea official tweeter still posted the photo about Gerrard's slip, so toxicity is everywhere.