Paul Merson has told Sportskeeda that he thinks Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester and Everton will battle it out for ‘the rest of the European spots’ next season.
The TV pundit claimed that he would be ‘shocked’ if any of the bottom half Premier League clubs got any points from the top four teams next season.
Arsenal and Everton missed out on European football altogether last season, whilst Spurs qualified for the newly-formed Europa Conference League and Leicester secured a fifth-place finish.
And this is what Merson had to say about all of those sides heading into the new campaign.
“There is another mini-league involving Arsenal, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton that could decide the rest of the European spots,” said Merson.
“I can’t see any of the bottom half teams getting points from the top four in the 2021-22 Premier League season – I’d be really shocked if that were to be the case.”
Well, if either Spurs or Arsenal don’t secure European football next season then it’s going to be difficult to see how either manager lasts in the job.
The same could be said for Rafa Benitez, who has the cloud of him being a former Liverpool manager over his head and the feeling he is already fighting a losing cause.
Brendan Rodgers side, on the other hand, have been the most consistent of all those teams and they will be hoping their FA Cup win can finally provide them with the boost needed to secure Champions League football.
Either way, expect another traffic jam for those European places because West Ham, Aston Villa and Leeds will also want to have their say.
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