Gary Lineker has dismissed
Manchester United ’s top-four hopes in the wake of the side’s 1-1 draw with Brentford and says he is ‘rooting for’ his former club
Tottenham to secure
Champions League qualification. Erik ten Hag will have been desperate for United’s pulsating FA Cup quarter-final victory over
Liverpool to prove a turning point for his side ahead of their trip to the Gtech Community Stadium at the weekend. But the Red Devils produced an uninspiring – and all too familiar – display versus Thomas Frank’s men and came away from west
London with only a point after Kristoffer Ajer cancelled out Mason Mount’s strike in a frantic period of stoppage time. The result means United remain stranded in sixth in the
Premier League table, 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa, and the side’s chances of sealing a Champions League spot appear out of reach ahead of their trip to
Chelsea on Thursday night. It leaves Ten Hag’s future in serious doubt, with the Dutchman’s position likely to hinge on United’s success, or otherwise, in the FA Cup, with the club believed to be eyeing up Gareth Southgate as a possible replacement. Reflecting on United’s latest disappointment on The Rest Is
Football podcast, ex-England and Spurs striker Lineker pointed to the team’s lack of consistency throughout the campaign. ‘I don’t think it will be United now, dropping points against Brentford,’ Lineker said when predicting who will finish fourth. ‘Obviously, I’m very much hoping Spurs, nothing against Aston Villa fans, but I never scored at that bloody place and I played for Tottenham so I’ll be rooting for them. But I think it might be tight. ‘As for United, they’ve got no consistency whatsoever. ‘One great performance, where they’re gung-ho and play brilliantly against Liverpool and then the next game they’re completely outplayed.’ Former
England and Newcastle forward Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, said Ten Hag’s ‘unpredictable’ United had ‘no chance’ of securing a top-four finish. ‘United aren’t finishing fourth, no chance. They’re not finishing fourth. Spurs for me!’ he said. ‘United are unpredictable and you just never know what you’re going to get from them. ‘They were terrible against Brentford, they were awful.’ Lineker is hopeful that Mount can use his goal against Brentford as a springboard after what has been an immensely difficult start to the midfielder’s Old Trafford career. ‘I like Mason Mount and I always thought he was a fabulously talented young player and he’s got a great work ethic,’ Lineker added. ‘I think he was one of many players that struggled when Chelsea lost their way and that can have an affect on players in various forms. ‘He’s gone to United and it’s not happened for him mainly because of injury I thinkbut there is a player in there. I’m telling you, there’s a player in there.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page . Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook ,
Twitter and
Instagram . MORE : Luton and Aston Villa will be big winners in the handicap markets at
Arsenal and
Manchester City MORE : Manchester United star reveals worrying reason he has been forced to miss games this season MORE : Micah Richards and Alan Shearer reserve special praise for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes after Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis