The predictions of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville in the Premier League for the 2021/22 season | Football news

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have made their Premier League predictions for the 2021/22 season – and the two Sky Sports pundits are tilting Manchester City to successfully defend their title.

City suffered an opening weekend defeat at Tottenham but rebounded in style with a 5-0 loss to Norwich on Saturday and Neville and Carragher believe Pep Guardiola’s side – who added £ 100million to Jack Grealish to their squad and could pass for Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the final week of the transfer window – will once again be crowned champions.

“Man City is Man City,” Carragher said. “Liverpool are the only team that has broken their spell, once in the past four years. It will take a long time to start over. It will be really hard to stop City if Kane is there. But if he doesn’t. no, I think it’s a lot more of a fight. I think Chelsea are involved and I think Liverpool are involved. “

Neville agreed. “You still have to go with Man City at this point because of what they have been doing over the past few years [regardless of what happens with Kane] and Chelsea have yet to prove themselves, Manchester United have to prove themselves, Liverpool have to prove that they can return to where they were before. “

The four first

Carragher: Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd. Neville: Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool.

The pair also agree on which teams they hope to finish in the Champions League qualifying spots behind Manchester City, but there is slight disagreement over the final order of the top four.

Neville explained why he thought Manchester United would end up above Liverpool: “I just think they have a better team. I think Liverpool have a better first XI but you know Liverpool, with a few injuries, has that drop. United don’t really have that downgrade in any position. “

Carragher pleaded for his command: “I don’t want to be disrespectful, I think managers of other teams have the pedigree of the best clubs, winning Champions Leagues, so I think managers make a huge difference.

“I think Liverpool have a better team, a better manager, they only finished six points behind United last season despite not having a center-back for most of the season. And I think Liverpool pass maybe under the radar and some people – including me – forget how good they were for a few years. “

Best striker

Carragher: Mohamed Salah. Neville: Romelu Lukaku.

Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku are nowhere near the mark in the Premier League, with Salah scoring in Liverpool’s first 3-0 win over Norwich and Lukaku on target as they return to Chelsea at Arsenal this weekend. Will any of these forwards win the Golden Shoe at the end of the season?

Neville: “It could be Salah, it could be Lukaku, it could be Kane – and, to be honest, you’d be guessing if you chose between the three.”

Outperformers / Underperformers

Carragher: Brighton / Man Utd. Neville: Everton / Arsenal.

Carragher on his overtaking, Brighton: “We have said so often how much we love to watch them play, but can they finish? Certainly in the early stages of this season they have been a lot more clinical than they are have been in the past. You just hope that with confidence, maturity, just this experience of playing in the Premier League, they can finish more of their chances. “

Neville on his overtaking, Everton: “I’ve been clear that I don’t really like the idea of ​​the ex-manager of the Liverpool legend going to Goodison Park. A lot of Evertonians don’t. But I do. have no doubts what he’s got ‘I will do it as a performance. I think he will give them their best season for a long time. I think they could do what West Ham and Leicester did in the season last and reach that fifth, sixth position. “

Carragher on his underachievers Man Utd: “I actually think United have a team that can really fight, really push for the title. You said they would finish third, I said they would finish fourth. I think it’s underperforming with the team they have. “

Neville on his underachievers, Arsenal: “I think they have a good young coach but at the moment I’m worried about the composition of the squad, it doesn’t suit me. It’s not because they lost their first two They have a mix of young players that you can imagine are committed, desperate to do well, have talent, and then I think of the advice I received as a young player at Manchester United, from Amazing senior players in this dressing room, and I don’t think they have the right direction around them in this structure. “

Young talent

Carragher: Emile Smith Rowe. Neville: Kai Havertz.

Carragher on his young talent, Emile Smith Rowe: “I think he was exceptional, I loved watching him last season. Even though Arsenal had a bad start to the season, he was arguably the best player on the pitch for Friday night Football. This is the way he moves with the ball. Very rarely I see even the best players being able to receive the ball on the back foot from both sides, he can go with his left or his right . I am a huge fan of his. “

Neville on his young talent, Kai Havertz: “I actually think Havertz has taken it to the next level, but he’s in third gear. He could move up to fourth and fifth gear. He could become an absolutely great player. When he really fills up, and he will, he’s already a great runner with the ball, but he’ll gain confidence, confidence and in a few years, he could be someone who is absolutely there. “

One to watch

Carragher: Jadon Sancho. Neville: Raphaël Varane.

Carragher on his only one to watch, Jadon Sancho: “I think he could be a superstar, really. You look at his numbers in German football. Gary mentioned that they needed this player on the right side, sometimes I thinks he’s as good on the left if you look at his stats. “

Neville on his only one to watch, Raphael Varane: “I want to see how Varane fares for Manchester United. I’m intrigued how this World Cup winner behaves with many Champions Leagues. To see how he builds a partnership with Harry Maguire takes Paul Pogba off of the one to watch. “