Jeff Stelling, a revered figure at Sky Sports, has shared his forecast for the Premier League standings this season.
In his prediction, Stelling anticipates that both Manchester United and Chelsea will fall short of securing places in the Champions League.
He believes that Liverpool, now under the management of Arne Slot, will clinch the title, edging out defending champions Manchester City and Arsenal.
Stelling has singled out Newcastle United as a surprise candidate to claim the final spot in the top four.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling stated, “I’ve placed Arsenal in second position, opting for an unexpected title winner this time around with Liverpool emerging victorious. Many might question my decision to overlook Manchester City, but I feel the team has suffered gradual erosion in recent years.
“The weight of the 115 charges looming over them could also have an impact. Therefore, my top three consists of Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
“I don’t believe Manchester United possesses enough squad depth, and I have ruled out Chelsea entirely from the top-four contention,” he added.
“If [Dominic] Solanke performs, Spurs could potentially seize an opportunity, and Aston Villa might have a shot if they can manage their Champions League commitments effectively.
“Considering the significant injury setbacks Newcastle faced last season – while acknowledging the challenges many other clubs also encountered – I believe they could claim the fourth position if they maintain relatively good fitness throughout the campaign.”