Paul Merson has given his verdict on the two teams he thinks will miss out on qualification for the Champions League this season.
Six teams in the top flight are still vying to fill four qualification spots to finish in the top five of the Premier League, which would seal a spot in Europe’s premier competition next season after the division earned an extra spot.
Though they have missed out on the title, with Liverpool needing just one more point from their last five matches to secure their second Premier League win, Arsenal are almost certain to finish in the top five – though it is not yet confirmed.
Behind them, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle are currently third to fifth respectively, but have Chelsea and Aston Villa hot on their tails, with both sides just two points behind the Magpies.
Many twists and turns are expected in the final few gameweeks of the season, with Manchester United and Tottenham also looking to qualify for the Champions League through winning the Europa League.
Popular pundit Merson, though, has given his prediction on who will miss out on a spot at the top table – and it may raise some eyebrows.
Paul Merson has predicted which two Premier League sides will miss out on Champions League qualification
The final league positions of the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle are still uncertain
Merson, though, suggested Chelsea and Aston Villa will be the ones to miss out
‘As it stands at the moment, I would say, I think it’ll be Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest,’ he told Sky Sports, speaking on who he thinks will achieve the feat.
‘Chelsea, it is in their hands in a way because they’ve got Newcastle and Forest to play, but if you look at the fixtures, Chelsea haven’t got a give-me in any of their fixtures. They’ve got difficult games – Everton, Liverpool, Man United, Forest, Newcastle – difficult games.
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‘You look at Forest and you look at Newcastle, one of them’s got Leicester and one of them’s got Ipswich [left to play]. For me they’re absolute give-me games, so you can give them those games.
‘I think Chelsea are up against it, they’ll have to go and pull up trees at St James’ Park and if they can get down to a last-day shootout against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, I think Chelsea take that now.’
Chelsea do indeed have a tough run-in, and the games against the likes of Newcastle and Forest could be vital – Enzo Maresca’s side will travel to Nottingham on the final day of the season.
Villa, meanwhile, have played a game extra than the other sides involved, having suffered a gut-wrenching defeat by Manchester City on Tuesday night.
