Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have made their predictions for the 2024-25 Premier League season.
After nearly missing the game through injury, 37-year-old Jamie Vardy salvaged a point for Leicester against Tottenham on Monday to end the first round of the new season.
Despite failing to hold on to their lead at the King Power Stadium, Carragher insisted Ange Postecoglou’s side have the quality to secure a top four finish this season after the Australian narrowly missed out on a top four finish in his first season as manager.
The former Liverpool defender helped Arsenal and Liverpool stay ahead of Spurs in the chasing pack, but he was given no chance against Manchester United.
Neville did the same shortly afterwards as Liverpool were conspicuous by their absence from his top four.
Jamie Vardy headed in the equaliser to prevent Tottenham from getting off to a winning start in the Premier League
But Jamie Carragher insisted Spurs have everything they need to secure Champions League football this season
The former Liverpool defender found Manchester United out of his predicted top four
The Reds have only missed out on a Champions League place twice in the past decade, but Neville claimed the turmoil following Jurgen Klopp’s departure could have serious consequences for Arne Slot’s team this season.
“I believe Klopp’s impact will take its toll, based on history,” Neville told Sky Sports.
‘That’s it. Proof of a manager’s history if he does leave at some point, I think there will be some pain for Liverpool this season, and it could cost them dearly.’
Neville went on to stress that while Liverpool have a better attacking line than United, Erik ten Hag has the upper hand when it comes to strength in depth in midfield.
“Liverpool have much better attackers, that’s what they have,” Neville added.
‘If I look at the midfielders of Manchester United, and if I then add coaches of equal standing to that, we still don’t know how Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot will play off each other.
‘I think Liverpool, with Endo, Szoboszlai and MacAllister, have done an incredible job of getting to the performance level of those three players, like Jurgen Klopp.
Meanwhile, Gary Neville insisted Jurgen Klopp’s departure could have serious implications for Liverpool this season
The Reds opened Saturday with a win against Premier League new boys Ipswich
But Neville claimed United’s midfield gives them an edge over their main rivals this season
‘I really doubt that midfield will hold up all season and if it does again I take my hat off to them. Well done. Unbelievable. Prove me wrong.
‘I think Manchester United have more in midfield. I think they have more depth and they have good players. Kobbie Mainoo, who comes into that team now, next to Casemiro, Fernandes is there, Mason Mount is there. McTominay is there.’
Last season Arsenal again narrowly beat Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking close to clinching their first Premier League title in 20 years right up until the final matchday.
Ultimately, it was City who retained their place at the top of the table and became the first club in top division history to win four titles in a row.
Both of last season’s contenders opened their campaigns with a win this weekend, but Carragher and Neville were divided over who would top the table come May.
Carragher backed Pep Guardiola’s team to maintain their dominant position, while Neville insisted Arsenal can push themselves to the limit.
The two experts also disagreed on who they think will win the Premier League trophy in May
Neville claimed this could be Arsenal’s year to finally break City’s run of dominance
“They are getting better and better, they are getting closer and I don’t know but I have a feeling they are going to do it,” said the former Man United star.
‘I think they will at some point. And look, you can never be 100% because of what Pep Guardiola does. He wins all the time.
‘But I feel Arsenal are so close and they are so consistent that this could be the year.’
While both pundits predicted that both Southampton and Leicester were doomed to an immediate return to the Second Division, Carragher insisted that Ipswich have the quality to survive and put Nottingham Forest in the running for the sack.
Neville predicts that all three promoted teams will be relegated this season, but also warned that if this happens for a second season in a row it would be an indictment of the growing financial disparity between clubs in the Premier League and the Championship.
“My fear is that the three teams will go down again,” he said. “My fear, actually, is not that. It’s that it will get harder.
‘I think the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is widening.
Both claimed that the promoted teams are in danger of falling back again this season
‘I also think there’s an element of the Championship clubs coming up now, using it as a fund to get the finances back in order, to rebuild the stadium, to use the money, rather than waste it all on the playing group and then still get relegated in a year or two.
“They’re basically using it as a profit centre to put money back into the club. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but that’s my fear of what could happen at the moment.”