Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have revealed their top four predictions after the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Arsenal got the defence of their crown off to a perfect start with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Coventry City on Friday night.
Manchester City left it late to beat Bournemouth at home on Sunday with Chelsea run close in a west London derby against Fulham on Monday night, leaving Craven Cottage with a 3-2 win.
Liverpool needed a very late equaliser to leave Newcastle with a point while Manchester United and Tottenham suffered disastrous opening weekends.
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Michael Carrick’s side were comfortably beaten by newly-promoted Hull City, undone by two set piece goals, while Spurs were outclassed at Brentford.
Both Neville and Carragher have backed Arsenal to retain the title this season with the former United captain believing Chelsea will run them closest. Neville 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.
‘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.’
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Chelsea will have a lighter schedule this season with no European football on offer this season with Carragher seeing that as a crucial factor in helping Xabi Alonso’s side finish ahead of Liverpool and United.
But the former Liverpool star sees City running Arsenal closest.
‘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.
‘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.’
