BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton says he expects Manchester United to beat the likes of West Ham, Arsenal and Spurs to fourth place.

The Red Devils took all three points with a last-gasp winner against the Hammers at the weekend and Sutton thinks confidence from such victories will aid the team’s chances of beating their rivals in the battle for Champions League qualification:

“With their squad, Manchester United should be finishing fourth. Tottenham have games in hand which, if won, would propel them into the top four. They go to United in March, too, so can take control of this race.”

“But United won 3-1 at Brentford – where big clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have failed to win – and followed that up with a 1-0 win over West Ham. I expect the confidence from those wins to start flowing through them.”

The defeat at Old Trafford was a serious setback for West Ham, but it certainly isn’t a fatal blow for the London club’s chances of finishing in the top four.

While, as Sutton says, Manchester United are in pole position at the moment, there are still 15 games to go, with little separating the teams competing for the final Champions League spot.

If the Irons are to kick on themselves, though, they will need to make one or two signings before the January transfer window closes. Fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that transfers will happen ahead of deadline day.