Gary Neville on Erik ten Hag's performance as Manchester United manager since joining from Ajax last summer. "Erik ten Hag is doing an unbelievable job. He's still got a team that looks, on paper, well below what it needs to be. But he's extracted everything he needs from them."

United are now a point behind second-placed Manchester City after beating their rivals on Saturday lunchtime and racking up a fifth consecutive league win in the process.

They did so in the absence of two of their regular first-choice back four and still lacking striking options as Wout Weghorst did not join sign in time to feature.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, former Man Utd defender Neville explained how impressed he had been with the turnaround Ten Hag has overseen at Old Trafford since his appointment last summer.

He said: "If you'd said to me United would've had a back four of Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw at centre-back, with Malacia at left-back, and a front three of Bruno, Martial and Rashford - seven or eight months ago, I'd have said United were in big trouble.

"Erik ten Hag is doing an unbelievable job there. He's still got a team that looks, on paper, well below what it needs to be. But he's extracted everything he needs from them.

"Casemiro in midfield, big signing. It was a really good decision from Ten Hag to put Fred in [against City]. That United midfield at the Etihad earlier in the season was McTominay, Eriksen and Fernandes, putting another solid blocking player in with Fred was a masterstroke.

"It meant the game was more difficult for City, and Casemiro has been absolutely outstanding. Authority, composure, Man Utd's midfield was the problem for many years, and actually that's their strongest part of the team and instead they need additions at the back and upfront."

Since a chastening 4-0 defeat to Brentford in Ten Hag's second game, United have dropped only 10 points across 16 matches, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and now neighbours City along the way.