Palace boss Patrick Vieira gives his verdict on whether Manchester United are title contenders

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Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira believes Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United are contenders to win the Premier League title this season.

Having been rooted to the bottom of the table after losing his opening two Premier League games in charge of the Red Devils against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, Ten Hag has dramatically turned around the club’s fortunes.

The twenty-time league champions beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday to move one point behind Pep Guardiola’s Citizens.

Ten Hag’s side are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak across all competitions and since being pummelled 6-3 by the defending champions at the Etihad Stadium in October, United have won 16 of their last 19 games.

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Patrick Vieira believes Manchester United are title contenders

Ten Hag’s side, who sit fourth in the Premier League table, could move up to second place in the table if they manage to beat Vieira’s Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.

Victory against the Eagles would move the Reds six points, albeit having played a game more, behind league leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster clash at The Emirates.

Ten Hag’s men beat Mikel Arteta’s Gunners 3-1 at Old Trafford in September and United’s title hopes will undoubtedly be taken more seriously if they pick up six points from the capital over the coming days.

Ahead of Palace’s rearranged clash against United, former Arsenal captain Vieira gave his verdict on whether he felt Manchester United were title contenders.

Speaking via the club’s website, the Frenchman said: “When you look at the last couple of games [Manchester United have] played, the number of wins they had and how close they are to the top [of the table], I think they can be [in a title race].

“It’s a different United [to the one we beat last season].”

United lost 1-0 at Selhurst Park on the final day of last season, in what was Ralf Rangnick’s last game in interim charge. Ten Hag attended that game having been appointed the club’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.