Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will feel deflated after they endured a poor start to the new Premier League season.
Before a ball was kicked, the London duo would have been backing themselves to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football – and they will still be thinking in that manner.
But Chelsea were beaten at home by Manchester City and Tottenham drew at newly-promoted Leicester City, despite going 1-0 up and producing a very strong first-half display.
After the game, Gary Neville was making his top four predictions and he put in some surprise names, including leaving out Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher has already slammed Neville for his Liverpool and Manchester United prediction, but he surprised him further by changing his mind on who will finish fourth – Chelsea or Spurs.
In terms of the squads they have, the former right-back thinks those in West London have the ‘better squad’, but they have spent over £1bn+ on it.
But he acknowledged that ‘bizarre things’ could happen at Stamford Bridge this season following Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea exit, Enzo Maresca’s arrival and the signing of a shed load of new players.
Bearing all of that in mind, you would assume Neville would back Spurs to nick fourth, especially after their fifth-placed finish last time out and how close they were to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
But he thinks Ange Postecoglou’s side will miss out and he highlighted the ‘problem’ with their bench and lack of depth, as he told Sky Sports.
Tottenham secured the signing of Archie Gray in the summer and he was one of several young players to come onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium.
Neville thinks that could be the difference in who finishes fourth, as he backed Chelsea, despite the negative noise around the club.
Who will finish in the top four?
Jamie Carragher expressed his surprise at Neville’s top four: “You have gone for Chelsea (fourth)? To which Neville responded: “Yeah, yeah. I said they could have a good season. But there are some bizarre things happening there.”
Carragher then asked: “You have changed just on tonight? (Spurs 1-1 draw).”
Neville responded: “No, do you know why I changed? I wasn’t sure earlier on today, to be honest with you. I hope Tottenham finish fourth. I think they play great football. What I would say is that when the subs came on tonight. I thought that could be a problem for them, in the sense of strength in depth. Ange spoke before the game, referring back to last season. Chelsea could be an absolute mess, easily. I think Chelsea (have the better squad).”
Tottenham and Chelsea squads
Given the amount of money Chelsea have spent on their squad, then you would assume they would have the better squad.
But you have to question if they have that togetherness or cohesion because Tottenham would have that in abundance.
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Tottenham signed Dominic Solanke for a club-record fee and he made his debut against Leicester. He would probably walk into Chelsea’s XI.
There are certain individual players from Spurs the Chelsea fans would want at their club, but they have the depth and it’s all about bringing it together.
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