Everton forward, Wayne Rooney is expecting Manchester United to struggle to beat Manchester City to next season’s Premier League title.

The former United Skipper has further said the Red Devils might find it hard competing for the gong during the 2018/19 term.

Meanwhile, the Guardiola-led side is on the way to emerging as the next champions of the Premier League come May 2018.

And that exactly is the situation as they have a 13-point gap at the top of the standings right now.

United, where Rooney played for 13 good years of his football career before joining Everton during the summer, is second.

Despite that, though, the Old Trafford landlords are looking very much unlikely to close the gap on the runaway leaders.

“In terms of catching Manchester City, they certainly will not go ahead to achieve that feat during the 2017/18 season.

“But if I am being perfectly honest, it will be difficult to catch them next season, that’s my opinion, though.”

The striker made the disclosure during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“City is getting to the level Barcelona were at four or five years ago.

“It is not nice for me to say but it is almost perfect football at times,” Rooney summed up.

Meanwhile, the Sky Blues have picked up only a loss in the Premier League so far during the ongoing season.