Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas were involved in a heated on-air exchange after the former Manchester United defender tipped the Red Devils to finish in the top four this season.

United have lost eight of their 19 league games this season and currently find themselves down in seventh place, but produced an impressive comeback to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Having reached the halfway stage of the season, Ferdinand and Jenas were asked to make their top four predictions and Jenas picked Manchester City to win the title again, with Arsenal taking second, Liverpool third and Aston Villa finishing fourth.

But Ferdinand was having none of it, and backed United – who lost at Nottingham Forest on Saturday – to get back into the Champions League spots, even hinting that it may not be that difficult for them.

‘Who said sneak in? I think Manchester United will be there [top four],’ Ferdinand said on TNT Sports following Chelsea‘s 3-2 win at Luton on Saturday afternoon.

Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas had a heated debate after the former defender tipped Man United to finish in the top four - despite their struggling start to the 2023-24 campaign

Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas had a heated debate after the former defender tipped Man United to finish in the top four - despite their struggling start to the 2023-24 campaign

Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas had a heated debate after the former defender tipped Man United to finish in the top four – despite their struggling start to the 2023-24 campaign

‘I don’t think they [INEOS] will have any bearing on it at the moment because they’re not going to have a bearing on this next transfer window, they are going to be observers, looking and seeing what’s going on and the big challenges behind the scenes they can then change.

‘But 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.’

Jenas was taken aback by Ferdinand’s claim given he has been critical of his ex-club, especially after they crashed out of Europe earlier this month.

Man United picked up an impressive win against Aston Villa on Tuesday but have endured a difficult first half of the season, with their latest low point a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest

Man United picked up an impressive win against Aston Villa on Tuesday but have endured a difficult first half of the season, with their latest low point a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest

Man United picked up an impressive win against Aston Villa on Tuesday but have endured a difficult first half of the season, with their latest low point a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest

He responded by asking Ferdinand: ‘Do you believe this? Do you honestly believe what you’re saying?’ having not even considered United as contenders for a top-four finish when making his own prediction.

This clearly irked Ferdinand who hit back: ‘Yeah, why are you questioning me?’

Jenas continued to ruffle Ferdinand’s feathers by saying: ‘Because I remember you having a meltdown at Fulham. Mine was a legitimate one. I just don’t think I had a bias nature with mine.

‘I think the United shout is a mad one. I’ve seen you have a meltdown after meltdown all year about United and now you chuck them in top four?’

Ferdinand wasn’t backing down, and even suggested United could finish as high as third.

‘I’m up and down like a yo-yo with them, I am. I am and I admit it and I love it, right,’ he explained.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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‘If Manchester United finish fourth and don’t win a trophy which is very likely, it’s an okay season… Oh they’re in there, they’ll bounce in there. They might finish third.’

As the awkward exchange played out, presenter Jules Breach watched on, before TNT Sports cut back to on-pitch interviewer Lynsey Hipgrave who joked: ‘I hate to get in the way of your argument, but send the boys down here and I’ll make sure I stand in the middle and we will get this show on the road.’

She then asked whether the pair were OK, to which Ferdinand replied: ‘Yeah, we’re alright. Well, we will see come the end of the season won’t we?’

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