Pundit names three Man United players key to title challenge

Garth Crooks has named the three Manchester United players who hold the key to their title challenge.

The Red Devils made a solid start to the 2017-18 season after managing to keep pace with runaway leaders Manchester City.

However, Manchester United only managed to collect four points from four games in the Premier League to lose ground on the Citizens.

The 20-time English champions lost to Chelsea and Huddersfield Town, while Manchester United settled for a goalless draw at Liverpool FC.

The Red Devils have managed to respond to their sticky run of form with four successive Premier League victories.

Indeed, Manchester United were emphatic 3-1 winners against Arsenal at The Emirates last weekend thanks to goals from Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard ahead of the Manchester derby.

Former Spurs forward Crooks named David De Gea, Nemanja Matic and Valencia as the three key players in Manchester United’s title challenge.

“De Gea, Valencia and Matic are key to United’s title hopes,” Crooks told BBC Sport.

“If they can remain fit for the rest of the season it will release the likes of Pogba and others to get in behind enemy lines and do untold damage. That is, of course, if Pogba can stay on the field.”

Manchester United haven’t won the Premier League title since 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge.

The Red Devils won the Europa League and the League Cup last term following Jose Mourinho’s appointment as manager.