Former Premier League manager Neil Warnock thinks Newcastle United will finish in the top four this season but he sees Man Utd missing out.
The Magpies have enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2022/23 season under Eddie Howe.
The former AFC Bournemouth boss seamlessly guided them away from the relegation zone last term as they ended up finishing around midtable.
Newcastle were likely hoping to challenge for a place in Europe going into this season after Howe was backed in the summer transfer market.
But they have surpassed expectations up to now as they are third in the Premier League after 15 games.
Howe’s side have only lost once in the league this term as they find themselves ahead of Tottenham, Man Utd and Liverpool in the table.
Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season and they have suffered shock defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
But this season is like no other with there being a mid-season break as a result of the winter World Cup in Qatar.
So teams like Liverpool will hope that this break will serve them well when the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day.
Warnock has backed Newcastle carry on their early-season form to qualify for the Champions League and he thinks Liverpool and Spurs will battle for the remaining place.
“I think I’d put Newcastle in, me,” Warnock said on talkSPORT.
He added: “It’s the first time he’s had to work for his job Jurgen [Klopp], because he’s done really well.
“He’s had a bad spell so it will be interesting coming this last half of the season now, with [Liverpool] and Spurs.”
On Tottenham, Warnock added: “[Antonio] Conte can’t do much more.
“They’ve just got to win something, it’s not great to watch but he’s a winner, so I’d like to see Tottenham win something.”
Man Utd meanwhile have shown signs of progress this term even with them losing their first two league games against Brighton and Brentford.
Warnock has praised Erik ten Hag for “getting the job done” but he cannot see them getting in the top four.
The former manager thinks it will take him “two or three years” to get United back where they want to be.
“I don’t think Man United will come fourth, but I do think he’s [Ten Hag] getting the job done,” Warnock added.
“I thought it would take two or three years. You know that [Cristiano] Ronaldo has gone, I think he’s the same as the French with [Didier] Deschamps.
“He doesn’t want [Karim] Benzema back. I think the dressing room is right and he doesn’t want to jeopardise that now.”
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