Jamie Carragher says Man Utd are in 'real fight to be in the top-four'

Jamie Carragher has had a dig at Gary Neville’s suggestion that Manchester United could finish second in the Premier League.

Newcastle defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Friday in a pivotal win that will aid their charge to gain a berth in the top-four, putting more pressure on the Red Devils and Tottenham who occupy third and fourth places in the table.

Alexander Isak’s brace of goals puts Eddie Howe’s side just three points away from Erik ten Hag’s side, with the pair set to go toe-to-toe next weekend at Old Trafford, in a match that is gearing up to be decisive in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Neville previously claimed Man United ‘have a great chance of finishing inside the top four’, but following Friday night’s result, his Sky rival, Carragher was quick to criticise the former United defender for his suggestion that Ten Hag’s side could finish in second place.

‘What that result does is it brings Manchester United into the pack in terms of the top four positions,’ Carragher told on Sky Sports.

Jamie Carragher has made a dig at Gary Neville’s claim that Man United can finish second

Erik ten Hag’s side sit third in the Premier League just three points ahead of Newcastle

‘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.’

Ten Hag’s side have impressed since the turn of the year putting together a decent run of league form that has seen them win five of their last eight games, while also winning the EFL Cup and advancing to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

They’ll take on Fulham in the FA Cup Quarter finals tomorrow, too, but have failed to pick up points in their last two league outings, suffering a humiliating 7-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool, before playing out a 0-0 draw to Southampton last week.

Neville, who was stood next to Carragher, did not acknowledge the subtle dig, and offered another view on how Man United will fare towards the end of the season.

‘[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 said.

Carragher told Sky Sports that the Red Devils were ‘in a real fight to be in the top four’

Alexander Isak’s last minute penalty helped Newcastle defeat Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Friday

The goal will put more pressure back on Man United as Newcastle make a charge for top-four

‘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.’

Isak scored a 93rd minute penalty to give Newcastle a last-gasp win over Steve Cooper’s side, after the ball struck Moussa Niakhaté’s hand inside the box.

The penalty threw the travelling Magpies fans behind the goal into delirium, with the result meaning Newcastle have secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League, following on from their 2-1 win vs Wolves the week before.

After the match, Howe was quick to praise his players, suggesting that this is a ‘big’ moment in their season.

‘Back-to-back wins, consecutive wins are hugely important in this division,’ he said after the match. ‘The quality of the teams, the strength of the opponent (it) is so difficult to do.

Neville also gave his opinion on the debate claiming Casemiro’s absence will be a big blow

Howe coined Friday’s win as a ‘big moment in our season’ taking Newcastle fifth in the league

‘A big moment in our season and we managed to dig deep and find a winner.

‘We don’t know (how important it could be) at this moment in time, but it felt a big moment at the end.

‘We went through a run of games around the cup final that were tough games, playing top opposition. Unfortunately we got beaten three times and it was a real test of our character how we responded to that.

‘Full credit to the players, it was a huge win.’

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