Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United are capable of finishing in the Premier League's top two.

United still have to play the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City but van Gaal believes that his side are proficient enough to improve their current position of third.

The Red Devils are third following the 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday and next take on crosstown rivals City at Old Trafford in their next league game.

"We can look up in the table. The next match is for the second position or the third, I think," the United boss told MUTV.

"It is still a rat race but we have given a blow to Liverpool, they lost again and so did Southampton so it's a big gap, but we have to play against the top three (around us)."

Meanwhile, Man City travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Monday night and a win will see them climb back to second spot.