Dion Dublin insists Manchester United 'have a long way to go' before they return to the Champions League after their draw with Brentford... as pundit claims Tottenham and Aston Villa 'play better football' than Erik ten Hag's side

Dion Dublin and Jamie Redknapp have questioned Manchester United's hopes of finishing in the Champions League places.

Erik ten Hag's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford on Saturday night, and it has left them in sixth place in the Premier League, eight points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham, and eleven off Aston Villa in fourth, although Unai Emery's side have played one game more.  

Sky Sports pundits Redknapp and Dublin analysed the run-in of all three teams, as they look to secure fourth place, with the potential that the team finishing fifth may also reach Europe's elite club competition.  

Redknapp said: 'It's so difficult to predict Manchester United, or to even guess how they're going to, because they're just so inconsistent. You don't know what you're gonna get. 

'So for you to say that they can finish above Tottenham and Aston Villa right now, you can't really make a case for them.'

In addition to the gap in points between Man United and the teams ahead of them in the Champions League race, there is also the issue of goal difference, with ten Hag's side sitting even, far behind Villa's +20 and the +18 of Spurs.  

Looking at the table after the Brentford draw, Dublin added: 'As it stands right now, I don't think that's too far off what it should finish. 

'I think United earned the right to be where they are, and Spurs and Villa have been better this season. They've been better teams and played better football.

'United have got a long way to go to get back to where they should be - and where they think they should be - challenging in that top four. 

'And the players as well, they've got to look at themselves and say listen, we've got to do better lads as well. We've got to play better football, we've got to create chances, got to show more energy. 

'There's a lot of talent at Manchester United, a lot of talent. It needs to be applied.'

Earlier on Saturday, Aston Villa beat Wolves 2-0 to bolster their hopes of a top four finish, whilst Tottenham turned it around to beat Luton Town 2-1. 

Unai Emery's side have arguably the toughest test midweek with an away game at Manchester City, while Spurs travel to local rivals West Ham and Man United travel to the capital to face Chelsea.

Despite dropping points in West London on Saturday night, ten Hag believes that his side can still make the Champions League next season.

‘We will keep fighting,’ said the Man United boss. ‘It can be very good point in the end. There are still many games to go but of course the points will be more expensive by the end. There should have been three, but now it's only one by the end we will know how it can work out, but it can be a big point at the end.’