Glen Johnson has changed his Premier League top-four prediction and reckons Liverpool will now finish third, above Manchester United.
While Manchester City and Arsenal have stormed well clear at the top of the table, there are a handful of clubs challenging for the final two Champions League spots.
Newcastle United currently sit third, two points above Manchester United and three ahead of Liverpool.
Tottenham, Brighton and Aston Villa can all technically still qualify for the Champions League, although it would be a huge surprise if any were able to make up the ground during the final few weeks of the season.
Newcastle suffered only their fifth league defeat of the campaign on Sunday as Arsenal got their title challenge back on track with a 2-0 win at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s side will look to bounce back and secure their long-awaited return to Europe’s top table when they finish their season against Leeds United, Brighton, Leicester City and Chelsea.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have lost their last two games 1-0 and cannot afford any more slip-ups as they prepare to face Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham.
Premier League top-four race
- Manchester City – 82
- Arsenal – 81
- Newcastle United – 65
- Manchester United – 63
- Liverpool – 62
- Tottenham – 57
- Brighton – 55
- Aston Villa – 54
Liverpool’s Champions League aspirations appeared dead and buried earlier in the season as Jurgen Klopp’s side slipped into the mid-table pack, but the Reds have won six games in a row to put pressure on their top-four rivals.
The Anfield club have three more games to play – against Leicester, Aston Villa and Southampton – and Johnson believes Liverpool may time their run perfectly and sneak into the Champions League spots.
Asked if he can see Liverpool pipping Manchester United or Newcastle United to a top-four place, Johnson told Betfred: ‘I do now.
‘I’ve previously said that Liverpool would have to go on a six to eight-game unbeaten run to have any chance and they’ve done that.
‘Liverpool have certainly got the momentum and Manchester United are inconsistent at present, so I believe Liverpool are the favourites out of them, Manchester United and Newcastle United to finish in the top four.
‘Out of Manchester United and Newcastle United, I think that Liverpool are going to most likely finish in the top four at the expense of Newcastle.
‘I believe that Liverpool will finish third this season as they’re the most consistent team out of the three competing at present and it will not be a fluke if they finish there.’
Despite Manchester United’s wobble, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag remains confident his side can secure a return to the Champions League.
‘It’s not about Liverpool, it’s about us and because of the table, we have everything in our hands,’ the former Ajax boss said.
‘If we bring our performance and our standards we’ll win games. We don’t have to look to others, we have to look at ourselves and find a way to win and get back to our levels.’
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