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Exclusive - Man United heading for title charge under Van Gaal next season, claims Carragher

Jamie Carragher has hailed the job done by Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, and claims they will be genuine contenders for the Premier League title next season.

The Red Devils are third in the table, five points clear of fourth placed Manchester City, who they beat 4-2 on Sunday, and just a point behind Arsenal, in second.

And Carragher is in no doubt Van Gaal is on the right lines at Old Trafford and is tipping the Dutchman to return the club to its former glories.

“When you finish seventh last year and a new manager comes in, your job is to get into the top four,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.

“It doesn’t matter how they play, or were playing, they were getting results.

“United have been in the top four for the last three or four months now probably, and it’s only in the last four to six weeks that we’ve seen the performances to go with it.

“People have more belief now in what he’s trying to do. Next season he will be bedded in, the football will come, he’ll have more players he wants and people will be more used to him.

“The fact it [the improved performances] has come before the end of the season is a real bonus for them. Looking at them now, people will start getting the idea they could go on and win the league next season.”

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Mourinho: 'Chelsea fans aren't plastic? Don't make me laugh!' – talkSPORT spoof interviews

DISCLAIMER: Like Manchester City's Premier League title challenge this season, don't take the video above too seriously!

talkSPORT's famous funny interviews are back, featuring the great and the good of the Premier League, plus some heavily edited questions.

Listen to Jose Mourinho 'discuss' allegations that Chelsea's fans are plastic, plus Frank Lampard's verdict on City v his old club.

Then there's Louis van Gaal and Wayne Rooney talking maths and orgies, Tim Sherwood confirming that everything is working downstairs and Steve Bruce without any trousers.

One step closer to the title! Chelsea boss Mourinho delighted by ‘vital’ Fabregas winner

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes beating rivals QPR represents a huge boost in their bid to win the Premier League title.

The 1-0 win, which came courtesy of a late Cesc Fabregas strike, puts the Blues seven points clear of closest rivals Arsenal.

And with seven games to go, one more than the Gunners, Mourinho believes it was a hugely important triumph over their fierce rivals.

"It was vital. We know that we are playing for the most important trophy of the season," the midfielder told Sky Sports.

"We're there in first place and we want to continue that.

"Our situation was very positive. One point would be one less point we need, but the reality is that three points is always three points and one less match we need to win so is a very important step in a very important match.”

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Arsenal transfer news: target Calhanoglu scores another superb free-kick

Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu and after another brilliant goal you can’t really blame them.

The set-piece specialist, who is being monitored by a host of huge European clubs, including Barcelona, has had an excellent season following a summer switch from Hamburg.

And if he continues to score with sumptuous strikes like this one in Leverkusen’s 3-2 victory over Mainz, it’s probable he’ll be on the move again sooner rather than later.

Check out the stunning free-kick below…

Raheem Sterling: Why I can fulfil my dreams at Liverpool

RAHEEM STERLING says it will be a dream come true to run out at Wembley with Liverpool against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Reds bounced back from league defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal to beat Blackburn in a quarter-final last Wednesday to secure their place at the national stadium.

Sterling's future at Anfield has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks after he rejected a new £100,000-a-week deal and put off further talks until the summer.

He insisted his decisions were motivated by a desire to win trophies and he insists he is focused on helping Liverpool securing a first piece of silverware under Brendan Rodgers.

Didier Drogba vows to keep playing whether he stays at Chelsea or not

DIDIER DROGBA has confirmed he will carry on playing next season.

But the 37-year-old striker is not expected to be offered a new deal by Chelsea when his current one runs out this summer.

Drogba made his first start since the beginning of February in the 1-0 defeat of QPR on Sunday, which sent the Blues back seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

But boss Jose Mourinho admitted his team had struggled to adapt to the hold-up play of the big Ivorian, rather than the pacier game of injured strikers Diego Costa and Loic Remy.

After the match, Drogba said: “No, it's not my last season.” But he declined to give any further details of what lay ahead.

He did admit he had struggled at Loftus Road, saying: “It’s difficult when you don't play and then have to go into these kind of games.

“No, it's not my last season”

Didier Drogba

“But I try to give my best. I tried to give the best of my physical capacity against QPR, so if the manager needs me I'm ready.

“Teams like QPR are fighting to stay in the Premier League so there is more intensity, more contact.

“A lot of games will be like this but we try to continue until the end, believe we can score and make the difference.”

Drogba, who is in his second spell of Chelsea, was full of praise for keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was in fine form against Rangers, eight days after being beaten by Charlie Adam's 66-yard shot for Stoke.

“It was important for him,” added Drogba. “He’s been giving us points from the beginning of the season. A mistake like last time can happen. I don't think it was a mistake anyway, I think it was more of a great shot from Adam.

“That’s the life of a keeper. One day you make a mistake or concede a fantastic goal when there is nothing you can do, then against QPR you save your team. He had a great game and all of the team, especially defensively were strong.”