Neville and Carragher back Man Utd for ´virtually guaranteed´ Champions League spot

Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United are “virtually a guarantee” to qualify for the Champions League, while former Red Devils defender Gary Neville has backed them to finish third.

United moved back into fourth, and three points behind Aston Villa in third, in the Premier League after they defeated Everton 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.

Benjamin Sesko was the matchwinner; he has scored six goals in his last seven appearances for United in all competitions, having managed just two goals in his first 17 games for the club this season.

Michael Carrick is yet to lose a game in any competition across both of his spells as United head coach (P9 W7 D2), with only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (11) and Herbert Bamlett (10) managing more games for the club before experiencing their first defeat.

United (P10 W6 D4) are one of only three sides that remain unbeaten across the big five European leagues since Boxing Day alongside Inter (11) and Borussia Dortmund (eight).

With top four rivals Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool still in European competition, Carragher sees United comfortably qualifying for the Champions League.

“Manchester United are virtually a guarantee,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

3 – Manchester United (P10 W6 D4) are one of only three sides that remain unbeaten across the big five European leagues since Boxing Day alongside Internazionale (11) and Borussia Dortmund (8). Turnaround. pic.twitter.com/KAWFZH2HpM

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 23, 2026

“Aston Villa look like they’re dropping points at the moment. They’ve got the European football on a Thursday night.

“Liverpool and Chelsea are both still in the Champions League and the FA Cup, and will want to do well in at least one of those competitions – a semi-final or a final.

“I can’t see Manchester United not making it.”

Neville added on the Gary Neville Podcast: “They’ve got an incredible opportunity to finish in the top four.

“I think they will. The other teams start playing in Europe, they’ve got distractions. United haven’t got any distractions.

“I think they could finish third, I really do think they could finish third. I said a couple of weeks ago I thought Villa might just get pulled back a little bit.”