‘We choked on each other, it’s that simple’: Rio Ferdinand excludes Manchester United from title race

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United are not in the title race after ‘choking’ against Everton on Saturday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side missed the opportunity to draw a tie with Manchester City – who still have one game in hand – after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a 95th-minute equalizer for the Toffees.

Ferdinand felt disappointed with United’s performance and said they were guilty of ‘tripping all the time’.

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United are not in title race after ‘choking’ against Everton

United’s 3-3 draw with Everton saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men drop five points behind Manchester City.

It also marks another game in which United failed to come away with three points.

United’s title hopes are starting to wane as they have won just two of their last six league games – with their biggest upheaval against last-ranked Sheffield United.

Speaking of United’s disgrace, Ferdinand told FIVE: “ You can’t defend him. At the end of the day, Man United were rather sitting at the top of the league.

Manchester United drew 3-3 with Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton side on Saturday (above)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapped a Lucas Digne free-kick to equalize for Everton late

“We didn’t come into this season hoping to be title challengers. We were too far behind Liverpool (last season). You can’t expect such a big turnaround to win the league, it’s impossible.

“But I’m like all the other fans. You see the leaderboard, you look at the results, you get excited. When you get into that position, Man United have to strike. You are here now and there is an opportunity.

“When there is an opportunity, you have to go. The problem is, we have let this opportunity slip into our hands. You can see Man City with their experience, they smelled the blood, they lowered their heads, they left.

“ But United stuttered, we’ve got the starter, we haven’t quite worked it out. We choked, it’s that simple. I would put us out of the title challenge unless we run and change our habits and our lack of consistency.

The draw puts Man United five points behind Manchester City – who have a game in hand

Ferdinand slammed Harry Maguire (left) for not leading United squad from behind

But I haven’t seen enough to suggest we can continue on a ten, 15 game winning streak. We stumble all the time. It’s the top four, we’ll finish second or third.

Ferdinand also criticized United’s defensive structure for Everton’s equalizer, adding: “ I see Harry Maguire, you have to lead this team from the back and make sure that (mistakes) don’t happen.

“I was furious before the free kick. Aaron Wan-Bissaka needs to understand his handling of the game at this point in the game.

“Passing the ball inside, cowardly like that, being cut off, is criminal.” I would have been screaming crazy in that locker room.