The 2020/21 Premier League season is about to kick off during the second week of September and every major pundit is now busy making their top-four predictions.
Most experts have safely prophesied that Man City and Liverpool will once again battle it out for the league crown but Gary Neville has chosen to walk on a rather different path.
The Man United legend has claimed that it will be his former club who could finish above Liverpool at the end of the upcoming Premier League season, while Chelsea are expected to make it into the top-four once again.
He told Stadium Astro, as quoted by Metro: ‘I’m going to go Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea, but that’s with a little bit of hope rather than science!
‘Finishing third last season was a big moment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That demonstrated progression.
‘I think he has to break that top-two or get close to that top-two and get close to the title. To get close to the top-two and win a trophy – maybe in one of the cup competition – would be acceptable. He would have to get close to winning a title by his third season.
‘It[the new signings] puts more pressure on Frank Lampard this season.
‘Will he be under pressure if they don’t challenge for the title? It depends on the performance levels, on how much they close the gap, on whether they win a trophy.
‘There are a few different factors. It’s not just about where they finish.
‘Whether it’s this season or next, Manchester United and Chelsea have to break that top-two, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard have to break that top-two. The owners will hope it’s this season but whether it will cost them their jobs or not I’m not sure.’
‘If Chelsea finish third but were in a title race with three weeks to go, that would be a huge advance on last season.
‘Roman Abramovich has invested heavily, I think he knows quality can be brought in with the transfer market affected by coronavirus.
‘But I also think he’s invigorated by Frank Lampard’s style of play. He’s always wanted Chelsea to be more fluid. You look at Lampard’s team and they’re better to watch. I think Roman Abramovich is heartened by the academy players coming through and is excited by the team.’
Liverpool completely bulldozed through the other Premier League sides last season but surely that will not be the case this time around.
But at the same time, we really do not expect them to finish third on the table, and that too behind Manchester United.
