Manchester United icon and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes his former club can secure a top-six finish this season. The Red Devils beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday, their first win at Anfield since January 2016. This was United’s first consecutive Premier League win since Reuben Amorim took over at Old Trafford in November 2024.
Sunday’s three vital points on Merseyside lifted Amorim’s side into ninth place in the Premier League standings. They are just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. There will be optimism at Old Trafford that a win over reigning English champions Liverpool will help the Reds overcome what has been a difficult period under Amorim.
Neville has expressed his belief that European qualification remains achievable for United’s squad this season, suggesting that finishing in the top six should be the aim. “They’ve just gotten into the top half of the table, up to ninth place. I think if they win next week they’ll have to start thinking about pushing up the league,” he told the Gary Neville Podcast.
“They have to get to a point where the club is stable and the only way to get stability is to win football matches.
“I think Manchester United have a top six team, especially knowing they don’t have European football and currently don’t have the Carabao Cup.
“If you look at four or five players, up front you have Benjamin Sesco, Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo, and behind them you have Brian Mbeumo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes.
“And the centre-backs they have brought in, Lenny Yolo, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, they should be able to achieve a top-six finish with a free week from that squad.”
Neville believes United must carry Sunday’s impressive win into their next game, at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
“This is a complete turnaround game,” he said. “If United lose here, which I thought was likely when I looked at the team sheet, Ruben Amorim will go into the Brighton game under huge pressure with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham coming up.
“They have secured an important starting point with their efforts, because a victory at Anfield is extraordinary in any campaign and conquering this venue represents the toughest challenge.
“They should feel immense pride as this is a huge achievement, but we have to build momentum from here. So it’s a great day for Manchester United, but we’ll see it again next Saturday night against Brighton.”
