Alan Shearer has claimed Manchester United are set for a turnaround in fortunes in Ruben Amorim’s first full season at the club.
After a dismal start under Erik ten Hag last season United opted for change and sacked the Dutchman in October with the club languishing in the bottom half of the table.
The following month Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon tasked with turning round what had been the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
The Portuguese was unable to revive United’s ailing campaign and when the dust settled United ultimately finished in 15th, two places lower in the league table than the position they occupied when he arrived.
After a busy summer in the transfer market in which they look set to beat Shearer’s beloved Newcastle in securing Benjamin Sesko’s signature, United will be hoping for a much more productive campaign this year.
And, according to Shearer, that’s exactly what they’ll get.
Alan Shearer has claimed Manchester United will return to the European places this season
Manchester United have enjoyed a productive summer in the transfer market and look set to complete the signing of Benjamin Sesko (above), fending off Newcastle’s interest
And Shearer insisted that will make the difference as he predicted the club will finish 6th
The Premier League’s record goalscorer recently put his 2025/26 predictions down on the record for Betfair.
‘We’re just over a week away from the Premier League returning and I’m really looking forward to it,’ Shearer said.
‘I think it’s been a nice break, although Man City and Chelsea won’t feel that after the Club World Cup.
‘You just have to look at some of the signings being made and how much the top four have spent. It’s going to be a fascinating season and I’m really looking forward to it.’
Shearer predicted that United will ultimately finish sixth this season, bringing European football back to Old Trafford following a single-year break.
Whether United chiefs would be satisfied with such a finish given their significant outlay in the transfer market remains to be seen.
At the top of the table Shearer has backed Arne Slot to repeat his incredible success from his maiden Premier League campaign by securing a second successive title win.
Shearer claimed Mikel Arteta will be forced to settle for second for a fourth season running, despite the Gunners finally bringing in a leading striker this summer.
Manchester City and Chelsea make up the rest of his predicted top four, while Shearer has backed Newcastle to once again claim fifth.
While Shearer backed Manchester United to undergo a dramatic reversal in fortunes, fellow former England international Joe Cole wasn’t quite so optimistic.
In his own Premier League predictions the TNT Sports pundit could only just fit United into the top half, predicting the club will finish ninth.
Meanwhile former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves placed his former club at 7th.
Cole and Hargreaves agreed with Shearer’s assessment of the title race, with both backing Liverpool to once again sit atop the league table at the end of May.
It’s bad news for the promoted clubs, however.
Shearer also claimed that Arne Slot’s Liverpool will top the table for the second season running
Mikel Arteta will be forced to settle for second again based on Shearer’s predictions
Joe Cole was the only pundit to predict that a promoted side will be able to escape the drop
Owen Hargreaves agreed that Liverpool will once again top the table come the end of May
For the last two seasons all three promoted sides have been unable to stave off the drop after earning a place in the top flight.
Both Hargreaves and Shearer clearly do not see that trend changing any time soon, with both men’s predicted tables having Sunderland Burnley and Leeds in the bottom three.
Cole however, claimed that Scott Parker’s Burnley do have what it takes to narrowly avoid the drop.
The three-time Premier League winner claimed the Clarets will just manage to remain outside the drop zone, with Wolves the unlucky club to make way.
