United dispatched relegation-threatened Aston Villa in confident fashion at Old Trafford, with a Ander Herrera double and a sublime Wayne Rooney strike sealing a 3-1 triumph to lift Van Gaal’s team into third.

England duo Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have impressed in United’s last two Premier League fixtures – victories over Tottenham and Liverpool respectively – that have put Champions League qualification well within their grasp.

Juan Mata notched either side of half time to put the Manchester United into a commanding lead at Anfield, though ten-man Liverpool – who had substitute Steven Gerrard sent off in the first minute of the second half – did pull one back through Daniel Sturridge.

Manchester United’s record signing Angel Di Maria believes their final league position could be decided by their next few games- starting with Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.

Van Gaal, who is 63 years old, says his age and spending more time with his family are the two pressing reasons for his retirement once he leaves Manchester United.

Manchester United’s 3-0 battering of Tottenham has led coach Louis van Gaal to say he believes the Red Devils are capable of overtaking local rivals Manchester City.

Manchester United face an almighty battle to stay in the top four as they face five of the current top seven in their final 10 games.

Despite winning five of their last seven games, Manchester United have come under pressure for their laboured, under-par performances in recent weeks, culminating in the Arsenal loss at Old Trafford.

Former United forward Danny Welbeck’s second-half strike secured a 2-1 triumph for Arsenal in an enthralling Old Trafford encounter, while Angel Di Maria saw red for a dive then bizarre shirt grab on referee Michael Oliver.

With Falcao having turned 29 last month, anything near the quoted £43 million price that Manchester United could pay in the summer for his permanent services would undeniably represent a monumental gamble on the club’s part.

In 1995 Wayne Rooney’s boyhood club Everton beat his current employers and ever since the FA Cup has been a source of fascination for the England striker.