{"id":1185924,"date":"2021-01-18T16:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T16:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1185924"},"modified":"2021-01-19T16:22:12","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T16:22:12","slug":"man-utd-premier-league-title-chances","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-premier-league-title-chances\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Man Utd’s title hopes to be defined by Paul Pogba’s “good arrogance”?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester United are still top of the Premier League table following their 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Red Devils haven’t lifted the title since 2012\/13 (Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge) but are well in the hunt this time around, sitting two points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and Leicester City, while they’re three ahead of reigning champions Liverpool in fourth.<\/p>\n

Although a goalless draw at Anfield is by no means a poor result, it could have been so much better for United, who squandered a couple of great second-half chances, including one from Paul Pogba late on as he broke free in the box to receive the ball from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but fired a powerful shot straight at Alisson.<\/p>\n

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But former United defender Gary Neville believes Pogba’s “confidence” will play a key role in his club’s chances, insisting the Frenchman is capable of putting together the sort of form required to win the Premier League.<\/p>\n

“I think Manchester United\u2019s chances of winning this league are slim – Liverpool and Man City are still the best two teams in this league,” he said on his Sky Sports podcast<\/a>. <\/span><\/span>“But the slim chance they have to win this league will depend on something like Paul Pogba delivering a cameo of two or three months of brilliance, which he is capable of.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019s got confidence, he\u2019s got arrogance \u2013 good arrogance, in a sense that he believes in himself. <\/span>He thinks he should be playing in the biggest games in the world, and winning titles, and thinking positive thoughts, thinking you\u2019re the best is a big thing when you\u2019re looking to win.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>“Just in that last 20 minutes, I felt United just had that little bit of missing belief. It\u2019s not a long way away, but that\u2019s the bit that will stop them winning the title.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Premier League title odds (via William Hill)<\/b><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Man City – 4\/7<\/li>\n
  • Liverpool – 10\/3<\/li>\n
  • Man Utd – 5\/1<\/li>\n
  • Tottenham – 18\/1<\/li>\n
  • Leicester – 33\/1<\/li>\n
  • Chelsea – 50\/1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    All odds in this article are accurate at time of writing (15:15, 18\/01\/2021). You can find more William Hill football markets here<\/a>. 18+ only.\u00a0<\/span>GambleAware<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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    Does Fernandes need back-up from Pogba?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Heading into Sunday’s clash on Merseyside, much was made of the form of Bruno Fernandes over the past year. The Portugal international was recently named as the Premier League’s Player of the Month for December 2020 after notching three goals and four assists throughout the month, making him the first to pick up the accolade four times in a single calendar year.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, to his displeasure, Fernandes was withdrawn in the latter stages at Anfield, with his manager citing “tactical” reasons.<\/p>\n

    “It was a tactical decision,” the Norwegian boss said<\/a>. “Bruno has been running his socks off every single game since he came. He has been here a year and running more or less every game.<\/span><\/p>\n

    “Towards the end, we felt Paul [Pogba]\u2019s physical presence in there might be a chance for us and Mason [Greenwood], when he gets a chance, can score in the blink of a second. So it was a bit of a throw of the dice to put Mason on even though he had to defend against [Andy] Robertson.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Three of the last five games between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield have ended in 0-0 draws.<\/p>\n

    An emoji to sum today's up?<\/p>\n

    ?#LIVMUN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VaNcJAklot<\/a><\/p>\n

    — William Hill (@WilliamHill) January 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n