Roy Keane insists Man Utd ‘very much in with a chance’ of winning Premier League as Arsenal, Man City receive alarming warning

Man Utd can still win the Premier League this season, according to their former captain Roy Keane, despite being below Arsenal and Man City as things stand.

Man Utd haven’t won the league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge, a decade ago. Since then, it has been a somewhat turbulent spell in the club’s history. But Erik ten Hag has been steadying the ship since his appointment as manager last summer.

Now more than halfway through his debut Premier League season, Ten Hag has his side third in the table after 23 games. He has kept Man Utd on track despite distractions involving Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the season, among other issues.

Few would have predicted Man Utd to be in title contention at the start of the season. After all, they finished as low down as sixth last term.

But Arsenal have shot up the standings this season, while Liverpool and Chelsea have fallen away. In other words, it has been all to play for in a rather unpredictable campaign.

Man Utd are still outsiders in the title race, since they are five points behind leaders Arsenal, who have two games in hand – one of which is against second-placed City, who are two points above their Manchester rivals having played one game fewer.

What also doesn’t work in Man Utd’s favour is the fact they have already played Arsenal and City twice each this season. Thus, there are no further chances for them to directly take points off them.

But according to Keane, Ten Hag’s team are far from being out of the title race yet. Indeed, as long as Arsenal and City show inconsistency – both of them lost during the weekend before the one just gone, for instance – they could be looking over their shoulders.

Roy Keane classes Man Utd as threat to Arsenal and Man City

After Man Utd’s win over Leeds on Sunday, Keane told Sky Sports: “Obviously, Arsenal and City are ahead of them but what they have to do, if any of the teams above them slip up, they have to be ready to pounce.

“They won today and they have to keep the pressure on City.

“Considering the way they started the season – they had a disastrous start against Brighton and Brentford – to be where they are now, I’d say they are very much in with a chance.

“But Manchester United – the players, the manager and the fans – have to look at the table and if City slip up as they have done and Arsenal continue their difficult run, they have to be ready to pounce, just in case.”

Even just finishing in the top four would represent progress for Man Utd this season. Perhaps the true test will be how they can do next term, because they have been inconsistent from one campaign to the next in recent years.

However, optimism is growing around Old Trafford about their chances of being competitive again. And knowing that at least one of the sides above them will drop points before United themselves play again, there is still some motivation with 15 league matches remaining.

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