Rio Ferdinand: 'Manchester United cannot afford to lose to Tottenham Hotspur'

Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester United need to pick up at least a point against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in order to keep their top four and Premier League title hopes alive.

Jose Mourinho's side have won just two of their last 11 league games and currently sit sixth in the table, 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

At the moment, Spurs are six points ahead of their competitors and head into the clash on the back of a 5-0 thumping over Swansea City.

"This is an opportunity for Manchester United to really stake a claim and really put the teams above them under a bit of pressure because this is kind of a statement game," Ferdinand told ESPN.

"When you get to these type of games, it's almost do or die because, if Manchester United lose, they could potentially go 12 points behind. Man United can't afford really to lose this game."

The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 3-0 victory for Tottenham at White Hart Lane.