Rio Ferdinand has told ESPN FC that Manchester United can make a statement against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday -- and have the ability to go on a run if they have "a taste of blood."
Jose Mourinho's men are sixth in the Premier League table, six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham and nine points off the top four.
Speaking to his former West Ham teammate and ESPN FC pundit Shaka Hislop, Ferdinand said: "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.
"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.
"If they go out there and win, and win convincingly, that makes everybody else sit up in the league and think: 'OK, they've beaten a very good team -- and a team in form in the last couple of games -- in Spurs.'
"I think they've got the players who have got the experience and the mentality. If they get that little taste of blood, they could go on a little run. With a manager like Mourinho, with his experience and what he's done in the past, they will be a danger.
"I'm not sitting here and saying that they will go and win the league. But to finish in the Champions League position? I think they're well capable of doing that."
