Come on in and join the club! Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Nemanja Matic has admitted Manchester United have fallen short of expectations this season and still have huge room for improvement.

Second-placed United trail champions-in-waiting and local rivals Manchester City by 16 points and have been unable to keep pace with Pep Guardiola’s rampant side.

Although United remain in the Champions League and FA Cup, Matic acknowledged their inconsistencies have held them back from making a sustained assault on the title.

United host arch rivals Liverpool on Saturday, knowing victory over Jurgen Klopp’s side would consolidate second spot and take them a step closer to securing a top-four place.

But midfielder Matic, who scored the winner in United’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Crystal Palace on Monday, said they must acknowledge their shortcomings and learn from them.

(Image: Reuters)

“We have to be honest and say we have had some very good games, but we have also had some bad games,” said Matic.

“We have to improve together — we have the Champions League and the FA Cup still to play for. To win the league is going to be very hard, because the gap is very big, but we have to fight until the end and we will see what we can do.

“I think that we have improved. Of course, in the Premier League it’s difficult to win every game, but I think, step-by-step, we’ve improved.

“In the future I believe, as a team, we can achieve big things together. I’m happy to be with the team and how we are working together. I’m sure we can do something this season and in the future.”

(Image: Reuters)

United currently hold a nine-point advantage over fifth-placed Chelsea in the top-four battle, although Matic said Mourinho’s men still face a “big fight” to guarantee a Champions League place.

“It’s going to be very hard until the end of the season,” said Matic. “There are many teams fighting to be in the Champions League next season, so it’s going to be a big fight.

“Every team has quality and good players. We need to be mentally and physically ready.”

Mourinho acknowledged United’s nine-point advantage over Chelsea had given them some margin for error in the run-in, but said his players must still fight for every available point.

(Image: PA)

“Being in the top four is the most important thing,” said Mourinho. “Obviously we want to finish second, but there is huge pressure on all of us to finish in the top four.

“Now there are nine points to fifth, so we can make a mistake and not panic. But the reality is that in this fight for the top four before the second and third teams were looking only to catch the team in first and, at this moment, it’s gone.

“So now we have to fight for every point to stay in that top four. So at Palace, even one point would have been good, after being two goals down."