Monday 16 January 2017 21:06, UK
Manchester United are out of the Premier League title race following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, according to former Red Devil Nemanja Vidic.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late header cancelled out James Milner's first-half penalty at Old Trafford, earning United a point that stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 matches.
The result, however, left sixth-placed United 12 points behind current leaders Chelsea and Vidic believes the gap is now far too great to overcome.
"Realistically we are out of the title race," Vidic, who won five Premier League titles during a nine-year spell at United, told ESPN.
"That's my opinion. But, in recent weeks, the way we have played is encouraging. If we keep playing like that then the top three is our target.
"After 1-0 [down], you take the 1-1. In the first half, we played well. We had three or four good chances and didn't take them. If you want to win the match, you have to take the chances we had.
"In the second half, we didn't play as good as in the first one - but we scored a goal. Ibrahimovic showed his class again. One chance, one goal. Overall, 1-1 is a fair result."
United remain in both domestic cup competitions and face Hull City in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final next week. Jose Mourinho's side will take a 2-0 lead to the KCOM Stadium.
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