Chelsea are headed for the Champions LeagueChelsea are headed for the Champions League
Chelsea are headed for the Champions League | Getty Images
A look back at what pundits predicted for the London clubs before the Premier League season began.
The Premier League season has now concluded, and we know all the outcomes, from title winners to Champions League qualifiers, Europa League teams to relegated clubs. After controversy aplenty in the top five race on the final day, the final Premier League table is set.
What we know is that Arsenal and Chelsea are headed to the Champions League next season, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea finishing in the top five, in that order. Aston Villa had to settle for Europa League spot, and Nottingham Forest are heading to the Conference League after Crystal Palace secured the other Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup.
During the season, pundits aplenty tweaked their predictions, but what was predicted before the season even began? Jamie Carragher got the title-winners wrong, but he was right about Arsenal’s final placing.
He explained: “Arsenal will be the closest challengers but Pep Guardiola, it doesn't matter what league he is in, more often than not he wins the league title. The only people that have managed to stop him are Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid one season and Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool a few seasons ago in the Premier League.
“That shows how tough it is and it has been tough on Arsenal with how close they have come in the last two season, but I know with Liverpool, Manchester City are a very difficult nut to crack. I think most neutrals will hope there's a different winner this time around and I think I'd say the same because you don't want the same team winning year after year, but you do have to take your hat off to City and Guardiola. With the job he has done and the team they have built, they are an extremely difficult team to beat.”
He added: "Arsenal are extremely close to winning a major trophy. I have said I think Manchester City will win the league, but seeing what Arsenal have done over the last couple of seasons, it is a toss of a coin. Mikel Arteta's side are that close and that good. The job he has done at the club has been fantastic and it's been great to watch.”
Carragher’s teammate Gary Neville backed Arsenal for the title, reasoning: “I went with Arsenal to win the Premier League last year and I'm sticking with them this season. They are on an upward trajectory and they are getting better every single year.
“Obviously, they are up against one of the great sides this league has ever produced in Manchester City under Pep Guardiola so it is always going to be tough. However, I feel like Arsenal have stability with the manager Mikel Arteta and they have stability in a team that is still improving. You cannot write of Manchester City, but I am going for Arsenal again. They were so close last year and I think they will be able to make that extra step this time.”
Elsewhere, plenty of pundits were spot on about Arsenal, but few were right about where Chelsea and Tottenham would end up. Interestingly, BBC Sport’s Micah Richards, Danny Murphy, Chris Sutton and Clinton Morrison all predicted that Manchester City would win the league ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool in that order. Richards predicted that Manchester United would finish fourth, while the other three tipped Tottenham to get fourth place.
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