Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand expects his former team to finish third behind Arsenal and Manchester City this campaign.

The BT Sport pundit says he can’t see the Red Devils getting involved in the title race but they are consistent enough to ensure they will seal Champions League qualification:

“I think Manchester United will finish in the top four quite comfortably now. A lot of the other clubs around them aren’t being as consistent as them, while United have been picking up results. They’re still a bit off Arsenal and Manchester City, but I can see United finishing in that third spot in the Premier League this season, tying that up and really making that position their own.”

A lot can happen between now and May, but Ferdinand is right to point out that Erik ten Hag’s side have shown enough to suggest they can maintain their current levels of performance.

He does seem pretty dismissive, though, of United’s chances of catching Arsenal and City, despite the fact that both of those teams lost at the weekend.

Ferdinand’s former teammate Gary Neville was slightly more positive about ten Hag’s men being regarded as title contenders but he too felt that the team may not have what it takes to sustain a challenge.

Considering how the season started, though, with two shock defeats, finishing third would be a decent achievement.