Former Newcastle United striker and Premier League legend Alan Shearer has delivered a sobering prediction for Manchester United's final league position this season, despite the team's recent impressive run of form.
Shearer's Verdict on the Top Six Race
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer expressed his belief that Manchester United will not finish in the top six of the Premier League this campaign. He anticipates the Red Devils will end the season in seventh or eighth place, a position he still considers an improvement on their previous troubles.
"I still think there's a lot of work to be done, and I don't expect them to finish in the top six," Shearer stated. "I would think somewhere around 7th-8th, as I said, for Man United, so that is improvement."
United's Current Form and League Standing
Shearer's comments come as Ruben Amorim's side sits seventh in the table with 18 points from their opening 11 matches. The team is currently riding a wave of positive results, having gone unbeaten in their last five top-flight fixtures.
This impressive streak includes victories over Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton, coupled with hard-fought draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. This resurgence has propelled United from the lower reaches of the table to within striking distance of the Champions League spots, now sitting just four points behind local rivals Manchester City in second place.
Pressure on Big-Money Signing
Shearer also singled out summer signing Benjamin Sesko for criticism, suggesting the striker must significantly improve his performances. The Slovenia international, who joined from RB Leipzig for £73.7 million, has managed just two goals in 11 Premier League appearances.
"One player that must do better is Benjamin Sesko," Shearer added. "I guess, after the 70-odd million pound they paid for him. That was a lot of money, it was too much, but that's the market. He's had a tough start."
The situation is compounded by the news that Sesko is now set to miss approximately a month of action due to a knee injury, putting further pressure on the squad.
While acknowledging the clear progress under Amorim, Shearer's prediction suggests that a return to the elite European competition may still be a step too far for this United squad this season, highlighting the continued rebuilding job at Old Trafford.
