Neville says Man Utd will miss out on top five

Gary Neville does not believe Manchester United will finish in the Premier League's top five this season despite Saturday's last-gasp comeback win over Brentford.

The Red Devils have endured a tough start to the campaign, losing six of their 11 games in all competitions under Erik ten Hag.

Scott McTominay's stoppage-time brace to overturn a one-goal deficit and dramatically beat the Bees avoided adding further misery but former right-back Neville thinks problems remain and backed Chelsea to pip United to a top-five spot.

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "I don't think Manchester United will finish in the top five this season — but they proved me wrong last season after having a very poor start.

"Chelsea are not far away if they get a centre forward and centre-half. Even though they've spent £1billion they still need two players.

"I felt sorry for Brentford because I like them a lot. But it was huge. 

"Huge in the sense of it had been such a depressing start to the season and by no stretch of the imagination does beating Brentford at home with two goals in the 93rd and 97th minutes mean that everything is OK. Far from it. It's a mess.

"They're way off it and I'm surprised because seven or eight weeks ago I had them third again."

Neville also highlighted the inconsistent performances of summer signing Andre Onana between the sticks, adding: "That's a problem.

"The goalkeeper hasn't settled in quickly.

"If your goalkeeper isn't settled in and there's a bit of instability around that, it does create a big problem. I've had it at United."

Pressed on which sides will finish in the top five ahead of the Red Devils, Neville: "I said [Aston] Villa at the start of the season so I'll stick with them but it wouldn't surprise me if it was Newcastle.

"Chelsea or Newcastle would be the fifth team at the moment. Man Utd, Villa, West Ham and Brighton will just miss out.

"If I was rewriting history from a few weeks ago I'd still say Arsenal, [Manchester] City, then Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea or Newcastle in fifth."