Rio Ferdinand predicts the Premier League top four including 'mad' suggestion

Rio Ferdinand predicted who he thought would finish in the Premier League’s top four.

Ahead of Chelsea’s 3-2 win against Luton, TNT Sport’s Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas debated who would finish in the Champions League spots at the end of the season.

Both agreed that Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool would make the top four, however, one of Ferdinand’s picks surprised his TNT Sports counterpart.

While Jenas opted for the high-flying Aston Villa, Ferdinand picked his former club Manchester United, who have endured a woeful campaign across every competition.

After Ferdinand’s United pick, Jenas said: "Do you honestly believe this? Do you believe what you are saying? I remember you having a meltdown.

“Mine was a legitimate one. I just don’t think I had a biased nature with mine."

After Ferdinand reminded Jenas that he spent a season on loan at Villa, the ex-Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder replied: "I think the United shout is a mad one. You have had a meltdown about them all year. That would be unreal."

Ferdinand later doubled down on his prediction, insisting he thought United would make the top four fairly comfortably.

Ferdinand explained: "I think Manchester United have had one of the most injury-ravaged teams this season, come January a lot of those players will be back and I think they will have a big impact on this team.

"Manchester United are still in touch, and with a bigger squad back playing, getting results they'll hopefully be back in the top four."

United have already crashed out of the Champions League, winning just one match in Group A and finishing behind Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen and Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle at the Round of 16 stage and have been largely poor in the Premier League.

United lost 13 games in all competitions between the start of the season and Christmas, the most by the club in that period since the 1930/31 season, when they finished bottom of the league.

Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United, Premier League, Champions League, Football

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.