‘I got it wrong’ – Neville and Carragher discover how pre-season predictions fared as they make same Man Utd howler
EXPERT punditry duo Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have taken a look back at their pre-season predictions now that the campaign is coming to a close.
Both former stars reflected on what they got right and what they got horribly wrong.
Carragher and Neville sat down at the start of the season to predict the top six, bottom three, top goalscorer, impact signing and “one to watch” for the 2023/24 season.
And some nine months later the pair have looked back to review their decisions.
They can both be happy with their title winning predictions as Carragher picked Man City and Neville opted for Arsenal.
With the title going down to the last day of the season between City and the Gunners, it’s safe to say their predictions were accurate on that front.
The top four is where things start to go downhill with both former England internationals predicting Manchester United to finish in third place.
The Red Devils have endured a turbulent injury-filled campaign that has seen them lose 14 league games already.
Erik ten Hag‘s side are currently eighth in the league table and, with just two games to play, sit some 14 points off the top four and 25 off third placed Liverpool.
Gary Neville was quick to defend his prediction by suggesting that United were expected to finish in the top four after their campaign last season.
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Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “I think most people would have gone for United in top four [at the start of the season].
“It’s been a massive under-performance and a bad season.”
Neville made up the remainder of his top four with Man City and Liverpool, while Carragher chose Arsenal and Liverpool alongside United.
Neither were too far off with their 5th and 6th place predictions, choosing sides that have pushed for European positions this season.
Carragher picked Chelsea and Newcastle, while pundit pal Neville predicted Aston Villa would make the grade this year alongside Chelsea.
Bottom three
However, relegation is where the predictions took another bad turn, but not for Carragher.
The Liverpool legend got it bang on by choosing all three of the newly promoted teams to head straight back down – Burnley and Sheffield United have already been resigned to relegation while Luton are as good as gone.
However Neville made a howler for one of his relegation sides, choosing Bournemouth as one of the three to head to the Championship alongside the Blades and the Hatters.
The Cherries have done anything but flirt with relegation with Andoni Iraola at the helm.
The south coast club are currently 11th in the table – closer on points to the European places than they are to the drop.
Neville had no excuses for his shocking prediction and held his hands up to his mistake.
He said: “Yeah… no. I just got it wrong. Hands up.”
Ones to watch
Carragher will have been pleased though as he named Iraola as his “one to watch”, predicting he would do big things with Bournemouth.
His Sky Sports partner chose Man Utd’s £47m summer signing Andre Onana for that title – who to be fair has been entertaining to watch throughout the season.
Both look like they will be on the money with their top goalscorer shouts as they both chose the inevitable Erling Haaland.
As for their “impact signing”, Neville takes the cake on that prediction too.
He took a punt on Arsenal’s £105m man Declan Rice being the difference in north London and he’s not far wrong with the England star a contender for player of the season.
Carragher opted for the white side of north London with his prediction, choosing James Maddison as his signing of the season.
Neville and Carragher's pre-season predictions
GARY NEVILLE
- Champions – Arsenal
- Top four – Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool
- 5th and 6h – Chelsea, Aston Villa
- Relegation – Luton, Sheff Utd, Bournemouth
- Top scorer – Haaland
- Impact signing – Declan Rice
- One to watch – Andre Onana
JAMIE CARRAGHER
- Champions – Man City
- Top four – Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool
- 5th and 6h – Chelsea, Newcastle
- Relegation – Luton, Sheff Utd, Burnley
- Top scorer – Erling Haaland
- Impact signing – James Maddison
- One to watch – Andoni Iraola
