Surprisingly, Gary Neville believes Chelsea will defeat Tottenham and Liverpool in order to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
However, the Manchester United great has said that after witnessing Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City on Monday night, his initial forecast was altered.
Pedro Porro gave Spurs the lead in the first half, and Spurs controlled the second half. However, the Foxes rallied admirably, and Jamie Vardy equalized in the 57th minute.
When Neville made his season predictions following the game, he reaffirmed his opinion that Arsenal will stop Manchester City‘s streak of winning titles.
But it was his top-four prediction that raised eyebrows, with the Gunners and the Citizens joined by Manchester United and Chelsea, with the latter taking the place of his original pick Tottenham.
Explaining his change of mind, he told Sky Sports: ‘I wasn’t sure [about Tottenham]. I hope Tottenham finish fourth, I think they play good football.
‘But what I would say is when the subs came on tonight, I thought that could be a problem for them in the sense of the strength in depth.
‘I think Chelsea have the better squad. Chelsea could easily be an absolute mess because they could be.’
In regards to snubbing Liverpool, Neville added: ‘The impact of Jurgen Klopp [leaving] will take its toll, just off the evidence of history. That’s it.
‘Evidence of history when a manager like that leaves… at some point I think they’ll be pain this season for Liverpool and it could cost them.’
The three clubs in question have begun the season with very mixed fortunes, with Tottenham drawing at Leicester after Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 2-0 and Chelsea lost to City by the same scoreline.
Neville had earlier slated Chelsea’s transfer policy alongside Jamie Carragher, who was left staggered by his fellow pundit’s predictions.
The Liverpool legend has instead tipped the top-four to be City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, with Chelsea not even in his top-six.