To be honest I don't think they could be title contenders. This season is really weird and this time around we don't have a clear candidate like the past 3 years. Not so long ago the two strongest contenders were Spurs and Liverpool, then Spurs lost two games in a row and suddenly now no one talks about them. Same with Everton in the first five matches. Same with Chelsea before their loss at Goodison Park. Arsenal were around the relegation zone and (just right now that they're beating WBA) they're 3 points off the 6th. Soton were first and now they're 9. Liverpool are first but they looked shaky against relegation zone teams. Any team that wins 3 matches in a row could be in the title race right now. Now, talking about MU specifically, I think they're more pretenders than contenders for one reason: referees's decisions. They've had a lot of decisions on their way this season and because of that they've won some points (like that pen against Villa yesterday or that pen against BHA after the game ended). They have been class some matches, but let's be real, they have more points right now than what they deserve really. I don't think there's a conspiracy about the refs wanting a team to win the league or something but being honest the referees has been atrocious this season, every matchday we have at least a questionable decision. But Man U are one of the most favoured team in the league and I don't think that luck is sustainable for a whole season