Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have revealed their top-four predictions for the Premier League season after the opening weekend of fixtures, with both pundits backing Arsenal to retain the title.
Arsenal began the defence of their crown with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Coventry City on Friday night. Manchester City left it late to beat Bournemouth at home on Sunday, while Chelsea secured a 3-2 win in a west London derby against Fulham on Monday night. Liverpool needed a very late equaliser to leave Newcastle with a point, and both Manchester United and Tottenham suffered disastrous opening weekends.
Michael Carrick’s side were comfortably beaten by newly-promoted Hull City, undone by two set-piece goals, while Spurs were outclassed at Brentford.
Neville’s top four: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United
Neville, the former Manchester United captain, has backed Arsenal to retain the title, with Chelsea finishing second and Manchester City third. He also has United securing fourth place ahead of Liverpool.
“Chelsea second? Just purely because of the fact that they’ve got no European football,” Neville told Sky Sports. “If they keep Enzo Fernandez, with Moises Caicedo in midfield, with that front three, and they’re only playing 45 games, they’re going to amass an enormous amount of points.
“That’s based upon the fact that they’re going to have more free weeks, they’re not going to have the injury pressures, they’re not going to have the travelling that comes with European football, and the mental fatigue that comes with that. I think they’ll just edge past Manchester City.”
Neville admitted he could not separate Manchester United and Liverpool in fourth place: “I can’t separate Man Utd and Liverpool in fourth place, I genuinely have no idea. I think City are in a better position than United. At the moment, I’m not convinced by United or Liverpool, but I do think they’ll finish fourth and fifth.”
Carragher’s top four: Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool
Carragher, the former Liverpool star, also sees Arsenal winning the title, with Manchester City second and Chelsea third. He places Liverpool fourth, ahead of Manchester United.
Carragher highlighted Chelsea’s lighter schedule as a crucial factor in helping Xabi Alonso’s side finish ahead of Liverpool and United. “Man City are better than Chelsea but the European factor can play a huge part. We saw Manchester United last season. It gives them a big lift, Chelsea,” he said.
“I think Liverpool would want more, but I think just looking at the Chelsea situation, Liverpool where they are right now, I don’t see any way they’d be in the top two, and I don’t see any way they can mount a title challenge.”
Both pundits’ predictions come after an opening weekend that saw Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea all secure wins, while Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham dropped points.
