Ever erstwhile former Man United captain Roy Keane has offered his opinion on how he sees next season shaping up for both Man United and Liverpool.
The former United defender does not believe that United will still have what it takes– despite ten Hag and his intended squad rebuild – to be able to challenge for the Premier League title next season.Not surprisingly, he is tipping Liverpool to finish behind the “brilliant” Manchester City once again.
Much scrutiny and talk have been focused on Old Trafford in recent weeks as their new Dutch manager is scurrying around on and pitch busting balls ahead of his first season in charge of the club. It is now all-out helter-skelter for the Dutchman and his motley crew and bedraggled squad as he tries to put Humpty Dumpty together again. And kudos to him for that.
To date, the former Ajax manager has so far officially signed full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and continues to be linked with further additions this summer as Ten Hag is hopeful of assembling his strongest possible squad ahead of the new campaign. Needless to say, he is targeting numerous of his former Ajax stalwarts to bolster the United squad.
The Red Devils yo-yoed their way to a disappointing sixth-placed finish last season in a trophyless campaign under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick – and the club’s main priority next term is to challenge for a top-four spot and the Champions League qualification that comes with it. That is at the top of their Do-or-Die list. Once that is accomplished, all other targets will hopefully fall into place.
And whilst all this is going on, Liverpool have been their usual capable selves busy bolstering their squad this summer with erstwhile additions like Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay in their resolve and bid to go one step further and win the title next term.
Unfortunately the Reds had to part ways with Sadio Mane who left for Bayern Munich earlier in the window but finally managed to secure Mohamed Salah’s future with a new contract earlier in the month.
Former Manchester United captain Keane has no doubts that the Red Devils are likely to be off the pace of the top two sides next term as he is convinced that Manchester City are likely to be the champions again following their signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Bet, as quoted by The Daily Mirror, Keane replied when asked if the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham would be able to get closer to the top next term: “I don’t think they will close the gap. I think they will be a bit better. They have quality and the recruitment, but you can’t look beyond Liverpool and Man City.”
Keane then tipped City to retain their title next season, saying: “Brilliant players, they’ve obviously improved with an unbelievable striker [Haaland] and they’ve got one of the greatest managers ever in Pep [Guardiola].”
Looking at his former side United, Keane added: “The manager [Ten Hag] no doubt will be given money to spend, how he recruits, four or five experienced players have left the club, which I think is a good thing. But I still don’t see United competing with Liverpool and Manchester City, not just yet.”
Manchester United will kick off their Premier League campaign with a home clash against Brighton, while Liverpool FC will face Fulham at Craven Cottage.