Jamie Carragher makes huge Chelsea prediction after 5-1 win over Southampton

Jamie Carragher is adamant Chelsea will finish above Premier League champions Manchester City this season after they continued their impressive run of form with a 5-1 win over Southampton.

Widely tipped to struggle before the 2024-25 season began, Chelsea find themselves second in the Premier League after 14 games.

Enzo Maresca’s side have lost just twice in the league this season – the rare defeats coming at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool – and now scored 31 goals, more than any team in the division.

Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo cancelled out Axel Disasi’s early opener at St Mary’s but Chelsea were in full control by half-time.

Christopher Nkunku took advantage of a rare Premier League start to put Chelsea ahead before Noni Madueke scored the visitors’ third.

Southampton were reduced to ten men shortly before half-time after Jack Stephens was sent off by referee Tony Harrington for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.

Chelsea made their numerical advantage count after the break, running out 5-1 winners as Cole Palmer scored yet again and Jadon Sancho netted his first goal since his summer move from Manchester United.

As Chelsea began to dominate Southampton, Liverpool legend Carragher said on The Overlap watchalong ‘There we go. I’m telling you, Chelsea are going to finish above Man City.

‘They’re winning games with ease. The way they played against Arsenal, the way they played against Liverpool.

‘As a Liverpool fan I’m more worried about Arsenal than Chelsea, they’re a bit more machine-like than Chelsea. But Chelsea are playing so well.’ 

Chelsea are currently two places and two points above defending champions Manchester City, who have suffered an alarming dip in form in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola’s side lost four games in a row before returning to winning ways on Wednesday night against Nottingham Forest.

Speaking after his former club Man City beat Forest 3-0, Gael Clichy told Amazon Prime: ‘As long as mathematically it is not over you cannot count Man City out of the title race.

‘The Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Three days ago there was a gap of 11 points and then the best team as of today, Liverpool, dropped points.

‘There are going to be twists and turns. For sure if they get their players back from injury Man City are going to be there, 100%.

‘We are not talking about a team that has won the FA Cup or a Carabao Cup or the Premier League just once.

‘City are a team that over the last ten years have won a lot, a Treble, four titles in a row, we have never seen this before. Maybe perhaps at times that is taken for granted.

‘People were clapping their hands because we are not used to seeing them lose, but you don’t perform this way for ten years just like that.

‘There is no perfection in football but over the last ten years Man City have been close. In the way that they play and the way that they have been run, City have been there.’

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