United in Champions 'rat race'

Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United is locked in a "rat race" for a place in next season's Champions League after a surprising 1-0 home defeat to West Brom allowed rival Liverpool to move to within four points.

United has now lost three consecutive league games for the first time in more than 13 years and failed to score over the same span for the first time since August 2007, a sequence that has seen van Gaal's team go four hours and 45 minutes without a goal.

"Maybe you remember all my press conferences when I said it will be a rat race until the very end," said van Gaal, whose side is fourth in the table.