Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy believes Manchester United will ‘surprise a few’ and they should be able to make the top four of the Premier League when the season concludes.
The Red Devils have continued with the same inconsistency from the backend of the previous campaign and they have accumulated just four points from the opening three top-flight matches.
While they did begin the season with a stunning 4-0 triumph over Chelsea, their performances have since lacked the cutting edge upfront and that has contributed to a draw and defeat to Wolves and Crystal Palace respectively.
As such, there are already concerns whether the Red Devils can improve on their sixth-placed finish from last season but Murphy is confident that the club will seal the fourth spot ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal.
“I actually think fourth will go to Man United. I think Chelsea will do all right and Frank Lampard is a great appointment.” he told The Mirror. “But United have gone big in the market and the quality they have in the final third – I mean there is doom and gloom around them, but I think they’ll surprise a few.”
United have definitely bolstered the defensive ranks with the recruitment of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire during the summer transfer window, but there appears a slight concern in the centre-forward department where the options are very much restricted.
Following the departure of Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are regarded as the regular choices to lead the line but there are still doubts regarding their consistency over a course of a single campaign.
Among the duo, Martial picked up a potential injury concern during the closing stages of the Palace defeat last weekend and it remains to be seen whether the Frenchman can recover in time for the Southampton clash.
Alexis Sanchez and young graduate Mason Greenwood are the other possible options available for Solskjaer upfront but the former seems determined to pursue a fresh challenge amid the interest from Inter Milan.
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