Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson says Manchester City will lose control of their fate if they can’t beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The race to finish in the top 5 is very tight, and while Pep Guardiola’s side still have Champions League qualification in their hands, Merson fears their poor recent results (including the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace) don’t bode well for the final two Premier League fixtures:
“Chelsea are fourth, if they get beat[en] they could end up seventh. I’d have to go with Newcastle safe because Everton haven’t got a lot to play for.”
Most Read on Man City News
“My worry is Man City. They’ve failed to score in their last two games, they’ve got Bournemouth coming up and that’s a dangerous game. If they don’t get anything out of it, it’s out of their hands. All you can ask for is it to be in your hands – and right now, it’s only in Newcastle, Chelsea and Man City’s hands as we talk.”
What is the current state of play in the Premier League?
City are sitting outside of the top 5 as of Monday afternoon. Unlike their rivals, they still have two games to play and if they beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night and Fulham next Sunday, they will qualify for the Champions League.
As things stand, Newcastle sit 3rd but only on goal difference, with Chelsea in 4th and Aston Villa in 5th on the same number of points (66). City are a point further adrift on 65. They are ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference in 7th but the Tricky Trees have played a game more.
City are facing teams with little to play for
Palace’s win in the FA Cup may actually help Guardiola’s team in the race for the Champions League. The Eagles’ victory means they have clinched a Europa League spot, which would have gone to the team in 8th place if they had lost the final.
It means Bournemouth and Fulham are playing mostly for pride, rather than European qualification. There is one unlikely scenario where they could finish 8th and get a Conference League place, but that would hinge on Chelsea finishing 7th and winning the competition.
Read our exclusive interview with Paul Dickov as the City legend discusses signing a “world-class” Real Madrid star and talks about Kevin De Bruyne’s future.