Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher makes Premier League predictions and name four players to look out for including Sancho
SKY SPORTS pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have made their predictions for the new Premier League season.
The Monday Night Football favourites debated which teams and players would succeed and fail over the coming months.
Manchester United legend Neville and Liverpool icon Carragher both backed Manchester City to win the title on the first MNF of the season.
Discussing Pep Guardiola’s side, Carragher said: “They had unbelievable consistency, right now they’re on the back of a victory.
“You’re thinking what they could do next week.
“With Harry Kane they’re very difficult to stop. If they don’t get him, it’s much more tough as you’ve got Chelsea in there.
“They didn’t have Aguero last season. In some ways it was Pep’s perfect way of playing, having a team of midfielders.
“They didn’t have consistent strikers but Pep will want a top quality centre forward in that team.”
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Neville added: “You’ve got to go with Man City with what they’ve done the in the last few years.
“Chelsea and Manchester United have something to prove, Liverpool have to get back up to the level they were at.
“City have been at the highest level, there’s a question of Aguero going and not being replaced. But they have lots of 10s, 15s, 17s that could contribute to getting goals.”
And the two pundits also agreed on Chelsea finishing second, with United and Liverpool joining them in the Champions League spots.
But they couldn’t shake hands on the order of the teams, with Neville backing United to finish above Liverpool in third.
Neville claimed: “I think United have the better squad.
Premier League Predictions
Champions: Manchester City (Neville and Carragher)
Top 4: Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool (N); Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd (C)
Overachievers: Everton (N); Brighton (C)
Underachievers: Arsenal (N); Man Utd (C)
Top Goalscorer: Romelu Lukaku (N); Mohamed Salah (C)
Young Talent: Kai Havertz (N); Emile Smith Rowe (C)
One To Watch: Raphael Varane (N); Jadon Sancho (C)
“Liverpool have the better first 11 but Liverpool with a couple of injuries they have that drop in level. Manchester United haven’t had a drop in level in any position.
“Maybe with Maguire but Varane’s in there now. If Greenwood’s not playing it’s Martial, Cavani, loads in players in each position… You could lose two players and they’d still be fine.”
But Carragher responded: “The managers of the teams, they all have experience of winning Champions League those three [Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea].
“Managers make a huge difference. Liverpool have a better team and manager.
“I think Liverpool are going under the radar with a lot of people forgetting how good they were for the last few years.
I’m a massive fan, I’ve loved watching him… the way he moves with the ball. Not even the top players can receive the ball on the back foot on both sides.
Carragher on Emile Smith Rowe
“Now they’re back and Salah and Mane have had a fresh summer.”
Carragher then stuck the boot in on his old foe Neville, claiming Man Utd would be the underachievers of the season.
Neville, perhaps unsurprising, didn’t agree – backing Arsenal to continue their dismal form and have a shocking campaign.
In terms of players, Neville believes Chelsea star Kai Havertz can have an excellent second season in the Prem and be the standout youngster.
Carragher, meanwhile, reckons Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe will flourish at the Emirates in the coming months and take that illustrious accolade.
He has gone up another level, but I think he’s in third gear but can go up to fourth… I remember what Chelsea said with Eden Hazard and that’s what Havertz will do.
Neville on Kai Havertz
Both pundits picked United stars as their ‘one to watch’, with Neville backing new signing Raphael Varane to have a big season.
The ex-Old Trafford hero said: “I want to see how well Varane does for Man Utd.
“They are intrigued to see how a great player, a World Cup winner, does in this side. I think it gives them a massive confidence.”
And his colleague Carragher has faith in Man Utd’s other big summer signing Jadon Sancho, calling him a ‘superstar’ on the telly.
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