Gary Neville believes Benjamin Sesko has done more than enough to earn a starting spot for Manchester United against Crystal Palace this weekend, warning Michael Carrick that keeping the young forward on the bench again could damage his momentum and confidence.

Sesko once again made a decisive impact on Monday night, coming off the bench in the second half against Everton to finish off a superb counter-attacking move that secured all three points.

Despite not yet starting a match under Carrick, the Slovenian striker has become a reliable difference-maker in cameo appearances, scoring crucial late goals against Fulham and West Ham and finding the net three times in his last four outings.

If you include the goals he scored during Darren Fletcher’s brief spell in charge after Ruben Amorim’s exit, the former RB Leipzig forward now boasts six goals in his last seven appearances — a remarkable run that has intensified calls for him to be included from the first whistle.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former United captain suggested Sesko’s goal celebration against Everton carried a clear message. Neville said it felt like the striker was signaling that he deserves to be in the starting XI next time out, especially after being left out following his standout display against West Ham. In Neville’s view, Sesko would have been frustrated not to feature from the beginning after producing such a high-quality performance in his previous appearance.

Neville admitted he had not always been fully convinced by Sesko earlier in the season, but believes the striker’s recent form demands recognition.

He argued that opinions must evolve based on current performances, particularly with United having struggled in recent matches against West Ham and Everton. According to Neville, Sesko appears stronger physically, sharper in his overall play, and brimming with confidence — all signs that he is ready to lead the line from the start. He added that overlooking him again on Sunday could be a major blow for the youngster.

Carrick has largely stuck with a consistent starting lineup during his six matches in charge, with only enforced changes due to injuries to Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez. However, Neville expects Sesko’s form to force a rethink ahead of Palace’s visit to Old Trafford.

Looking ahead, Neville predicted a front four of Matheus Cunha on the left, Bryan Mbeumo on the right, Sesko through the middle, and Bruno Fernandes operating just behind the striker. He suggested that Amad Diallo, despite impressing recently, may have to drop out temporarily to accommodate the in-form forward. Neville’s stance is clear: when a striker is delivering winners and equalisers on a consistent basis, it becomes impossible to justify keeping him out of the starting team.

Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United are all but certain to secure Champions League football after their hard-fought 1–0 win over Everton.

United were eager to bounce back from a 1–1 draw at West Ham — their first stumble since Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim. They were made to work for it on Merseyside in a physical encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a standout display.

Lammens dealt confidently with a flurry of second-half corners and denied Harrison Armstrong and Michael Keane, strengthening the view that he represents a major upgrade on predecessor Andre Onana.

Carrick’s decisive move came midway through the second half, introducing Benjamin Sesko for Amad Diallo. The Slovenian striker once again delivered from the bench, finishing first time past Jordan Pickford after a sweeping counter-attack sparked by Matheus Cunha and squared by Bryan Mbeumo — all three summer signings combining for the winner.

Carrick praised Sesko’s impact but stressed the importance of balance in his squad. He said the striker is in a strong place mentally, understands the need for patience and will be an important player for the club long term. While acknowledging Sesko’s influence, Carrick made it clear that selection decisions will continue to depend on the overall team dynamic.

The victory lifted United above Chelsea into fourth place after the Blues dropped points against Burnley. With the Premier League expected to gain an additional Champions League spot once again, Carragher expressed strong confidence in United’s prospects.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he argued that United look almost certain to finish in the qualification places, pointing to Aston Villa’s inconsistency and the added European commitments facing Liverpool and Chelsea. Although he joked about mind games, Carragher insisted he genuinely believes United will get the job done.

Former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was slightly more cautious but agreed that Carrick has positioned the team well. He noted that Everton piled on pressure in the second half but United stayed composed and saw the game out professionally.

Van der Sar emphasised the importance of finishing in the top four or five to secure Champions League football, adding that with no cup distractions and no European fixtures, Carrick has valuable time on the training ground to further refine his system.

He also suggested Sesko may have earned a starting spot after another decisive cameo, though he backed Carrick to continue making the right calls as United push toward the finish line.

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested three potential successors to Mohamed Salah, with ex-Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic among the names mentioned.

Salah, now 33, is widely expected to leave Anfield this summer after enduring his least prolific campaign in a Liverpool shirt.

The Egyptian forward had previously scored 25 or more goals in seven of his first eight seasons on Merseyside, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats. This term, however, he has managed just seven goals, a sharp decline by his own extraordinary standards.

Speculation over his future intensified before the January window after critical remarks about the club and manager Arne Slot surfaced in an explosive interview.

Saudi Pro League clubs showed interest, but Liverpool opted to keep him for the remainder of the season. Despite that decision, a summer departure now appears increasingly likely, particularly after Salah was substituted during Sunday’s late win over Nottingham Forest, a moment some viewed as symbolic of his reduced influence.

Discussing possible replacements, Heskey admitted that directly filling Salah’s boots would be almost impossible.

“We’re talking about replacing Mohamed Salah and, as fans, you’ve got to accept you can’t truly replace him,” Heskey told OLBG. “I remember someone saying he’d had a bad season when he scored 25 goals. I’d have loved that kind of ‘bad’ season. We’re talking about 20 to nearly 30 goals a year for a decade.”

Instead, Heskey believes Liverpool may need to reshape their attack rather than search for a like-for-like successor. He highlighted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his preferred option, praising the PSG winger’s direct style and flair. He also pointed to Jarrod Bowen as a viable alternative, noting that while most players would represent a step down from Salah statistically, Bowen’s work rate and versatility could suit a tactical shift.

Heskey also floated Pulisic’s name, suggesting the AC Milan forward could thrive if given another chance in the Premier League.

“I quite like Christian Pulisic,” he said. “He’s very direct. He maybe didn’t score as many as I expected at Chelsea, but he caused defenders problems. After a strong World Cup and finding form in Italy, he could offer something different.

“Mo left Chelsea, went to Italy and then became a legend at Liverpool. It would be interesting to see Pulisic return and prove his Chelsea spell was just a blip. He was very young when he first arrived.”

Liverpool, who won the Premier League by ten points last season, have struggled in their title defence and now sit sixth, 16 points behind leaders Arsenal. They required an injury-time winner from Alexis Mac Allister against Nottingham Forest to keep their top-four hopes alive.

Next up is a crucial clash with West Ham as Slot’s side attempts to salvage their campaign and secure Champions League qualification.