Man Utd’s six-game winning streak came to a halt with a 1-1 draw against Stoke, which left their title aspirations all but over and also somewhat derailed their top four bid. But it was difficult to feel too disappointed on such a momentous day for Wayne Rooney, who broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time club goal scoring record with a sumptuous free kick to equalise deep into injury time.

It could hardly have been scripted better, and Rooney deservedly grabbed back page headlines the following day. He has been a terrific servant to the club and fans are blessed to have witnessed him terrorising Premiership defences for many a year.

But, like many stars that burst onto the scene at an early age, his legs are failing him and he is no longer a guaranteed starter. Going forwards, Jose Mourinho can no longer rely on him, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is even older and will not be around much longer. Marcus Rashford looks a fantastic star in the making, but Mourinho will surely have to dip into the transfer market for another forward soon.

Much of the speculation has focused on Antoine Griezmann. He is a wonderful forward and the presence of Paul Pogba in the Man Utd squad might help convince him to join as we have reported previously. It could take Man Utd breaking the world record transfer fee they paid to sign Pogba, but the club’s pockets are deep and it would represent another step in the right direction.

However, Griezmann already plays for a top side in Atletico Madrid, and it may take Man Utd qualifying for the Champions League to convince him and other stars of his calibre to join in the summer. Man Utd’s draw with Stoke wasn’t the end of the world as Tottenham, Liverpool and Man City all dropped points too at the weekend. But it does leave them still in sixth place and four points off the top four.

Bookmaker lines for Man Utd show they are not fancied to make the top four. At 13/10 they are sixth favourites, behind Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.

There is still a long way to go though, and Mourinho’s men have a great chance of making the top four. Chelsea are heading for another title win, and certainly look nailed on for a top four place as they have a 12-point lead over fifth place Man City and a 14-point lead over Utd. Arsenal always finish in the top four and are in good form, so they could well make it again. Tottenham are also on a roll and will take some stopping.

But what should give Man Utd cause for optimism is the form of Man City and Liverpool. Those teams have the worst defences in the top eight and that could ultimately cost them. Pep Guardiola does not seem to have got the hang of the Premiership and keeps making tactical clangers that cost his side. They were thrashed 4-0 by Everton and somehow failed to beat Spurs last time out, and this erratic form will give Man Utd a great chance of overhauling them.

Liverpool are also in poor form and have not won in three games, while they face a difficult game against Chelsea next. Both Liverpool and City are great going forwards but poor at the back, while Man Utd have looked solid of late. Liverpool 8/15 to make the top four and City are 8/11, but the 13/10 you can get on bookmaker lines for Man United making the top four looks very attractive. Stoke is a tough place to go, and Utd are still unbeaten in a long time in the League (13 games), with Pogba finding his feet and Ibrahimovic banging in the goals, so winning a top four spot and attracting world class players to the club for the next season is a real possibility so if those goals can be achieved along with a Cup win or two and you would have to say Jose Mourinho has had a successful start to his United tenure.