Michael Carrick eyes Liverpool and says club can leapfrog City and seal Champions League spot Manchester United midfielder confident his side can overhaul neighbours and claim automatic qualification for the Champions League – if they beat Liverpool at Anfield please log in to view this image Renewed belief: Michael Carrick reels away in celebration after scoring United's second against Spurs Photo: REX FEATURES Michael Carrick has claimed that Manchester United can overhaul Manchester City and target runners-up spot in the Premier League if they emerge unbeaten from the trip to Liverpool on Sunday. With City enduring their fifth Premier League defeat of the season at Burnley on Saturday, United moved to within two points of the Premier League champions with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford against Tottenham 24 hours later. Arsenal’s recent surge up the table has seen them move into third, a point adrift of City, to intensify the battle for Champions League qualification with United and Liverpool. But with City losing five of their last 10 games in all competitions, Carrick believes that Louis van Gaal’s team can now look to finish second behind Chelsea rather than focus solely on securing a top-four spot. “We have got to aim for that [second] because we are within touching distance now,” Carrick said. “You look at the table now and it is so tight. But I suppose we’ve really just got to look to next Sunday and the game at Liverpool. It is a big game for a lot of reasons and that is probably all we can focus on at the moment.” please log in to view this image United tore Liverpool apart at Old Trafford in December, beating them 3-0, but the Merseysiders have enjoyed a renaissance since the turn of the year Photo: GETTY IMAGES With United facing fixtures against Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea during their final nine games, the team’s fate rests in their own hands. Carrick believes that United’s experience of dealing with the pressure of title run-ins can prove crucial in their bid to secure their first objective of Champions League qualification. “For this club, the Champions League is the place to be isn’t it?” the United midfielder said. “We had been in it for so long and not being involved on the big nights this season makes you realise what it is all about. “We know there are going to be ups and downs because that is how it is, especially in the last nine or 10 games. But hopefully, when that pressure kicks in and it goes up and up, we can perform even better and we’re going to have to in the weeks to come.” please log in to view this image United certainly punched their weight when Spurs visited Old Trafford at the weekend Photo: REX FEATURES United’s victory against Tottenham was a result of the team’s best performance under Van Gaal, who succeeded the sacked David Moyes as manager last summer. Carrick believes that the manner of the win offered proof that the team is making progress under the Dutchman. “The players are behind him of course,” Carrick said. “It is just that results prove everything don’t they? We can improve on the training pitch, we can get better there, but it is all about what we do on game day really. And against Spurs, it was probably a big step for us in terms of the size of the game and, to play like we did, it will give everyone a big boost and big shot of confidence. “It shows we are moving in the right direction which is good, but it is no good settling for that. We still need to keep on that upward curve.”
Yeh 8 of them is Astro going into meltdown. Someone farts at Old Trafford and he's telling us what they had for lunch. #obsessed
Pele is Your arrogance maywell be your downfall The site you took that off is well known for taking the piss out of us, so your post is nothing new. They did the commentary stuff on youttube, which is funny tbf Anyway the point is would Pele say that? No, didnt think so
But touchy aren't we doc. You had total sense of humour failure? I think you will beat us. Your form is better than ours. It's away from from home I think you have the three points. I just hope we play ok and do t get dicked.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...rpool-transfers-arsenals-theo-walcott-5366088 Want away Sterling has got his wish and will escape the RS bin. Contingency plans in full swing #brendaforlife
Shows how far you've fallen when all you've got on us is how many 'fans' post on a football forum. #desperate
When did he ever have a sense of humour?! Good work on getting the reverse jinx in early. I think Liverpool will win 6-0 with Henderson shanking a hattrick of deflected pea rollers
Congratulations on the top at Christmas trophy and people's champions trophy you won so gloriously last year. Manchester United Last league title - two season ago Liverpool's last league title - 25 seasons ago. #getitright
