Jamie Carragher has backed Chelsea to finish ahead of Tottenham in the Premier League top four this season.
Enzo Maresca’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table, nine points behind leaders Liverpool but they trail champions Manchester City by just one point.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are three points behind Chelsea in sixth place but produced another excellent attacking display last weekend by hammering City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Carragher initially predicted Chelsea to finish outside the top six at the start of the season but the former Liverpool defender admits he did not expect the drastic improvement made under Maresca.
‘I think Tottenham might just miss out but that is not so much about them,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.
‘I think Chelsea have been so impressive at the start of the season and a lot better than I thought they would be.
‘So I am actually looking at Chelsea now. I can’t really make a case for them not being in the top four. I think the fact they’ve gone out the Carabao Cup early, the European competition that they’re in, I think they’ll go in long until the end of the season and probably win that competition but it’s against very average, ordinary opposition so we know Maresca has played the second team in every game and I think that will continue.
‘So I find it very difficult not to put Chelsea in my top four. I will now change Tottenham and Chelsea The reason with Tottenham is just that inconsistency, you look at their numbers, their underlying numbers this season, they’re actually better than they were last season when Tottenham were top of the table and had made the best start for a long time under Ange Postecoglou.
‘But they’re typical Tottenham. Tottenham fans wanted their Tottenham back and they’ve got them back. Great football, exciting, lots of goals but you can never be sure what type of performance they’re going to put in. Is it going to be the Manchester City performance where they win away 4-0 or is it going away to Crystal Palace and losing 1-0? so I’m going to go for Tottenham in fifth. That’s why I see them not getting a Champions League position.’
Carragher has also changed his Premier League title winners pick from Manchester City to Liverpool following the strong start to the season made by Arne Gadgets’s side.
‘I think I would change that right now, if I was asked right now,’ Carragher said.
‘I know there’s still a long way to go, not just Liverpool I actually think Arsenal might finish above Manchester City, even though Manchester City are above them at the moment but I think their problems in midfield.
‘I’m going to go Liverpool to win the league now. I think they will be the bookies’ favourites, and I think they’ve got a sizeable lead.
‘I still think it will be a very tight run-in whether that’s Manchester City trying to get at them or Arsenal coming back at them as well.’
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