Gary Neville sets objective for Ruben Amorim after improved run, ‘United should really…’

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Gary Neville has set a target for Manchester United after an impressive run of results sees them unbeaten in five matches.

As things stand, Manchester United have the second-longest unbeaten run in the Premier League. Only Arsenal can boast a longer run of games (8) without defeat after drawing 2-2 with Sunderland during the weekend.

In October, United went on a run of three consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.

The last two games saw United draw with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, although the performances in those games warranted a total of six points instead of two.

United will aim to get back to winning ways after the November international break when they take on Everton at Old Trafford.

One of Ruben Amorim’s tasks this season is to ensure United are back playing in Europe next season, but now they can benefit from playing one game per week.

It bodes well that Bryan Mbeumo won the Premier League Player of the Month award in October as he continues to prove himself as a successful summer signing.

Gary Neville sets top four challenge for Man Utd

Former United captain Gary Neville claims Ruben Amorim and his side should be aiming for a top-four finish this season.

The Red Devils are currently seventh in the Premier League table, just one point below the Champions League spots, as well as being one place ahead of reigning champions Liverpool.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	TottenhamTottenham	11	5	3	3	19	10	9	18
6	Aston VillaAston Villa	11	5	3	3	13	10	3	18
7	Manchester UnitedManchester United	11	5	3	3	19	18	1	18
8	LiverpoolLiverpool	11	6	0	5	18	17	1	18
9	BournemouthBournemouth	11	5	3	3	17	18	-1	18

A disastrous 2024/25 campaign led to United finishing 15^th in the Premier League, so jumping into the top four a season later should be seen as an achievement.

Neville believes United should be trying to build on their recent form and targeting a top-four finish.

“It’s been a good month for United,” Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.

“They beat Liverpool and got eight points out of their last four Premier League games.

“Liverpool away, Nottingham Forest away, Brighton at home and Tottenham away.

“But because they got six points in the first two games, there’s an element of thinking, ‘Well, if they just got another two or three points, they’d be right up there in second’.

“United should really be thinking that if they can get it right, Tottenham as well, but it’s tougher for them with European games. They should be thinking around [the] top four, they really should, because there’s no one grabbing it at this moment.

“You look at Chelsea, Tottenham, who don’t look sure, Liverpool don’t look sure. It’s there for the taking. It’s about consistency.

“After this international break, you’ve got two or three months of lots of games, the winter slog.

“It’ll sort the teams out, and you come out of January and see where really everybody is. But there’s a good opportunity for United.

“Bournemouth have lost this weekend, Forest have picked up a win, it’s starting to equal itself out. It’s starting to work itself out.”

The fact that pundits are now talking about United as a top-four team shows how much they’ve improved in the past month. That is why they need to get back to winning ways after the international break, with plenty of winnable fixtures on the horizon.

When did Man Utd last finish in the Premier League top four?

The last time United finished in the top four was 2022/23 under Erik ten Hag, in the Dutchman’s first season in charge.

Ten Hag’s second season didn’t go to plan as far as United’s league form. There was no improvement as United finished eighth in the table.

It is alarming that United have finished in the top four just five times since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.