Jamie Carragher believes the top-four race in the Premier League will go ‘down to the wire’ and says Arsenal have two major advantages over Manchester United.
Although there is still three months of the campaign to play, the top-three places appear to have been wrapped up with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea pulling clear of their rivals.
Pep Guardiola’s side look set to win back-to-back titles, moving nine and are currently 16 points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
- Chelsea legend slams players for celebrating ‘nonsense’ Club World Cup
- Drogba makes Lukaku prediction & reacts to Chelsea’s Club World Cup win
- Gary Neville reveals he knows Man Utd players behind dressing room leaks
While Chelsea have dropped out of the title race over the past two months, they are six points clear of fourth-placed West Ham with an outstanding game in hand, so securing a top-four finish should not be an issue.
Just five points separate the next five teams, with West Ham, Manchester United, Arsenal, Wolves and Spurs all battling it out for the final Champions League place.
Carragher believes the top-four battle ‘will go all the way to the end’ and says the Gunners have a clear advantage as they have games in hand and no European distractions between now and the end of the campaign.
‘I think it will be tough for West Ham to get in the top four,’ the former Liverpool and England defender told Sky Sports.
The current Premier League table
Manchester City – 63 points
Liverpool – 54
Chelsea – 47
West Ham – 41
Manchester United – 40
Arsenal – 39
Wolves – 37
Tottenham – 36
Brighton – 33
Southampton – 29
‘Arsenal, what a win that was for them away to Wolves. The games in hand, no European football.
‘You think about how long Manchester United will be in the Champions League, that could play a part. It feels like it will go to the wire.
‘I think it will go all the way to the end. Arsenal, do they have enough forwards? Spurs look to be in trouble. ‘Right now I’d think you’d take them out of it. Wolves look [like] a really good team.
‘With Man United, scoring goals is the hardest thing. They are really struggling for any sort of continuity. They seem to be lacking confidence, belief and a system that works for them.’
Tottenham appeared to be in the driving seat to finish fourth but Antonio Conte’s team have lost their last three matches to slip to eighth, five points behind West Ham.
After Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday, Conte said it would be ‘impossible’ for his team to secure a top-four finish based on current form.
‘When you lose two games at home and against Chelsea – for a team that want to qualify for the Champions League, it’s impossible to happen,’ Conte said.
‘We know we have to fight to build something important with the situation but it’s important to know the situation. Maybe our fans shouldn’t be disappointed with the defeat – instead they should try and push us and stay behind us.
‘The players need to find the right atmosphere and feel no pressure about a target that in this moment you can’t reach. I’ve been saying this since my arrival.’
