Chelsea will not finish in the Premier League’s top six this season, reckons Jamie Carragher, who feels they have made some big mistakes in recent months.
It has been another summer of huge change at Stamford Bridge, with a string of new signings and a change in manager as Enzo Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout.
There have been departures but there need to be plenty more, with Maresca dealing with an extremely bloated, unfeasibly huge squad.
Carragher feels that the inexperienced Maresca has too tough a job on his hands and the club made a mistake by not keeping hold of Pochettino, who finished last season very strongly.
The Liverpool legend is also not particularly impressed with the business they have done in the transfer market, feeling they are still missing an elite goalkeeper and centre-forward, despite all the signings they have made.
Asked if he thinks Chelsea will be better than last season, Carragher said on Sky Sports: ‘No I don’t think so, I think they made a big mistake in getting rid of the manager Pochettino, we know he’s a top manager, great experience.
‘Maresca is a young manager, really inexperienced and I think to throw him in here now is a really tough job so I can’t see them finishing in the top six.
‘Listen, they’ll be battling it out for the European places. I think Newcastle will be there as well with Aston Villa I just think Aston Villa will get it.
‘They [Chelsea] haven’t got a goalkeeper or a centre forward!’
Carragher fancies Manchester City to win the title, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham completing the top four, ahead of Manchester United and Aston Villa in fifth and sixth.
In contrast, Gary Neville has tipped Chelsea to pinch fourth place ahead of Liverpool, which Carragher could scarcely believe.
‘You’ve gone for Chelsea?’ Carragher asked. ‘We were calling Chelsea a basket case at the start of the show and you’ve put them in the top four ahead of Liverpool?’
The former Manchester United defender is not so much backing Chelsea to shine, but feels that Liverpool will hit a sticky patch with Arne Slot having a very tricky task ahead of him in replacing Jurgen Klopp.
‘I think Liverpool, the impact of Klopp will take its toll, just going off the evidence of history,’ said Neville. ‘A manager like that leaving I think there’ll be some pain at some point this season and I think it will cost them.’
Neville’s prediction for the season sees Arsenal win the title ahead of City, United and Chelsea in the top four, with Liverpool fifth and Spurs in sixth.
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