Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea: Pundits predict who will make top four | OneFootball

We’re just a few days away from the return of the Premier League.

It’s been almost a month since we had a full schedule after matches were postponed following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the recent international break.

And it’s back with a bang.

The weekend kicks off with the mouthwatering north London derby as Arsenal take on Tottenham at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime.

Then, on Sunday it’s the Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United.

We can’t wait.

We’d forgive you if you can’t quite remember what happened in the opening few weeks of the season.

Well, Arsenal lead the way with six wins from their seven matches while Man City and Spurs are hot on their tails as they also remain unbeaten.

Man United have recovered from a poor start, while Chelsea and Liverpool have struggled at the start of the campaign.

Pundits make their title and top four predictions

So, who is going to finish in the top four?

Well, we’ve had plenty of opportunity to amend our pre-season predictions in recent weeks and that’s exactly what several pundits have done.

In the absence of Premier League football, pundits have been making their title and top-four predictions and the Mirror have compiled them all in one place.

From Jamie Carragher to Bacary Sagna and everyone in between, it seems everyone has had their say on who will go on to win the title – and who will finish in the top four – at the this stage.

So, without further ado, let’s check out their recent predictions:

Jamie Carragher – Arsenal in title race

“If you actually watched Arsenal this season, you’d never seen them before,” Carragher said. “I mean, they do look like they could be title contenders.”

William Gallas – Arsenal to go closer than Spurs in title race

“I think Arsenal have a better opportunity to compete for the title than Tottenham because this season they aren’t playing in the Champions League,” Gallas told Genting Casino. “I think they have to be focussed on the title. I don’t know what their target is, but whether it’s top four or to win the title, I hope [Mikel] Arteta has told his players, ‘this season we have a good opportunity to fight for the title, so let’s do it’.”

Patrice Evra – Man City and Liverpool to battle it out for title

“I think City and Liverpool are still the favourites, but you have so many others too, including Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea,” Evra said.

Bacary Sagna – Liverpool or Chelsea to miss out on top four

“I think Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City will definitely finish in the top four,” Sagna said. “Then you only have one spot left, which will be fought between Liverpool and Chelsea.”

Gabriel Agbonlahor – Man City to win title, Liverpool to miss out on top four

“Top four, for me, would be first place for Manchester City, second place Arsenal, third place Spurs and fourth place Chelsea,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.

Alan Shearer – Man City to win title, Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four

“It has slightly changed from the beginning of the season,” he told ViaPlay. “But on the evidence I have seen from Manchester United and Chelsea, then I think Arsenal might sneak in there as well.”

Paul Merson – Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four

“It’s still early doors, but I think the Premier League top four this season will be Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in whatever order,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “Chelsea will obviously have a thing or two to say, but we’ll have to wait and see how [Graham] Potter performs at Stamford Bridge. As for Manchester United, I don’t think they’ll make it because they still have a lot of work to do in terms of their squad.”

Jermain Defoe – Arsenal and Man Utd to miss out on top four

“I’m not going to say who is going to win it, who will finish second and that,” Defoe told Football Daily. “But for me, the top four teams in the Premier League this year, when I look at the squads, are Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.”

Gary Neville – Chelsea and Man Utd to miss out on top four

“I think Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham will be the top three,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I think it’s a big battle between Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United. I think Liverpool, you think they are going to come good just because of what they have done in the last few years. I think United will struggle to get in the top four, personally.”

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – Arsenal and Tottenham to miss out on top four

Hasselbaink said: “I think United will find a way of playing, they cannot keep on playing the way they have been playing for the early parts of this season. But I think they will get above Arsenal. I think Chelsea will get in the top four with Man United, City and Liverpool.”

Roy Keane – Man Utd to finish in top four

“United, I think United are certs for the top four,” Keane said. “I think they’ve got a settled group now. Obviously, the transfer window, I mentioned it earlier, a lot of baggage with players who weren’t happy at the cub gone. The manager is settling in, the options coming off the bench today we saw… United for me.”