Jamie Carragher makes Premier League top-four prediction with Man Utd and Chelsea tipped to struggle

Jamie Carragher has revealed his Premier League top-four prediction, tipping Manchester City to win a fifth consecutive title and Chelsea to miss out on European football altogether.

The 2024-25 Premier League season begins on Friday night with Manchester United kick-starting the new campaign at home to Fulham.

Man City became the first club to win four English titles in a row last season and will look to make it five on the bounce under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal pushed City close last season – as they did in the 2022-23 campaign – and will attempt to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title.

Liverpool finished third in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield and will bid to challenge for the title in Arne Slot’s first year on Merseyside.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, will try to consolidate their place in Europe after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time under Unai Emery.

Tottenham slipped to fifth last season after briefly threatening to mount a title challenge, while Chelsea and Manchester United finished even lower after largely disappointing campaigns.

Carragher cannot see Man City relinquishing their stranglehold over the Premier League title and believes Arsenal will be their biggest challenger, finishing as runners-up for the third year in a row.

The ex-England defender reckons his former club Liverpool will finish third and has backed Spurs to return to the Champions League in fourth.

Predicting Manchester United and Aston Villa to finish fifth and sixth respectively, Carragher is less than optimistic about Chelsea’s chances under new boss Enzo Maresca.

Explaining his Premier League title prediction, Carragher told FourFourTwo: ‘I can only see Arsenal or City really.

‘I know people are talking about Arsenal because they’ve gone close twice and they’re really close to making that next step.

‘But I still look at Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, and I think that is still better than what Arsenal have got.

‘I think Arsenal are one attacking player short. They’ve got Bukayo Saka but the other two in terms of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard, I think they need one more who’s pretty special to take over from Man City.’

Carragher gives verdict on Liverpool

Carragher believes a top-four finish would be a job well done for new Liverpool boss Slot after the team ‘overperformed’ in Klopp’s final season at the club.

‘I was really surprised Liverpool came so close last season, if I’m being honest,’ he added.

‘With the new manager coming in, finding his feet in the Premier League, most Liverpool fans would expect top four this season. I don’t think anyone will be expecting a title.

‘If you could have a title challenge like last season, and maybe a new manager comes in and adds something to what Jurgen Klopp had, but having a new manager in the Premier League is not easy and I think Liverpool slightly overperformed last season in terms of being in the title race for so long.

‘Another season like Liverpool had last season would be a great start for Arne Slot.’

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