Jesse Lingard believes the mentality of the Manchester United squad may be to blame for failing to replicate their impressive wins over big rivals against smaller Premier League clubs.

United boast an excellent record against the top flight's elite sides this season, beating Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Leicester City, while drawing against Arsenal and Liverpool - with the latter the only game in which Liverpool have dropped points this term.

However, United lie eighth in the table, seven points off the top four, largely due to their inability to pick up points against some of the so-called 'lesser' lights in the top flight.

United fans' frustrations were perfectly summed up by their last four League results: with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure, the Red Devils beat Tottenham at home and champions Manchester City away (both 2-1) before dropping points at home to Everton (1-1) and at Watford (0-2).

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Solskjaer has struggled tactically in terms of breaking down teams who set up in a low block, and United have lacked the creativity and drive needed to get in behind defences who sit deep - while thriving against attack-minded teams who allow space in behind to counter-attack.

Newcastle United are up next for the Red Devils, who have already lost once to the Magpies this season as they fell 1-0 at St James' Park in an increasingly predictable scenario.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about United's inconsistent form, Lingard said: "It's strange, maybe it's a mindset thing. Maybe it's our mentality going into the match thinking we've already won the game.

"If we keep the consistency and mentality we had against City and Tottenham, I don't see why we can't win every game.

"It seems like our mentality changes... when we start with energy and on the front foot, we'll cause team problems all day long.

"To keep that consistency throughout the rest of the season when we come against the mid-table teams, we need to have the same mentality that we did going into the City and Tottenham game."