- Liverpool’s exclusion from Neville’s top-four prediction sparked debate among the pundits on the show
- Gary Neville revises his Premier League predictions after gameweek 1
- Jamie Carragher remains firm on Manchester City winning a fifth consecutive title
Gary Neville has wasted no time in revising his predictions for the Premier League season, making significant changes after just one game. The former Manchester United defender, known for his critical analysis, initially backed Tottenham Hotspur to secure a top-four finish. However, following their opening match, he’s now reconsidered Chelsea’s potential to overtake them.
On Monday Night Football, Neville joined fellow pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher to share their Premier League forecasts. While Carragher confidently placed Manchester City at the top for a fifth consecutive title, followed by Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham, Neville diverged.
He predicted Arsenal would finally dethrone City, with Manchester United and Chelsea rounding out the top three.
Just days earlier, he had tipped Spurs for fourth during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, citing that “Arsenal... they’re getting closer every time. This could be their year... and Tottenham's fourth.”
Host Dave Jones of MNF (Monday Night Football) show was quick to question Neville’s change of heart, prompting a cheeky suggestion from Carragher that it was due to Spurs’ 1-1 draw with newly promoted Leicester City.
Neville explained, “I wasn’t sure earlier on today, to be honest about it... I think Tottenham play great football... but... the strength in depth” might be an issue. He further noted that Chelsea, despite their recent struggles, “have [a better squad].”
Tottenham’s season opener at Leicester saw them field a strong lineup, minus the suspended Yves Bissouma.
Despite a promising start with Pedro Porro scoring from James Maddison’s cross, Jamie Vardy’s equaliser and a lacklustre bench impact left Neville questioning their depth.
Intriguingly, Neville’s top-four picks exclude Liverpool, suggesting that new manager Arne Slot might struggle in his first season. “My view would be that the impacts of Klopp will take its toll just going off evidence of history,” Neville remarked, implying that Liverpool might endure a challenging campaign.
In terms of the relegation battle, both Neville and Carragher see tough times ahead for Southampton and Leicester, though they differ on the third candidate, Carragher points to Nottingham Forest, while Neville believes Ipswich could face a rough return to the top flight.
As for individual honours, the duo agrees that Erling Haaland is set to dominate the scoring charts again.
Carragher highlighted Wolves’ Pedro Neto as the potential standout signing, with Neville naming Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber as a key defensive addition.
As the season progresses, fans will eagerly watch to see how these early predictions pan out and whether Neville’s adjustments prove insightful.
Premier League awards: Where are the last 10 PFA Players' Player of the Year winners now?
Previously, TheRadar reported that Manchester City forward Phil Foden claimed the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award on Tuesday, August 20. The 24-year-old played a pivotal role in City's triumph, helping them secure a fourth consecutive Premier League title in the 2023/24 season.
With 19 goals and eight assists, Foden was instrumental as City narrowly beat Arsenal to the title on the final matchday.
