legend Jeff Stelling surprises with Premier League top-four prediction, snubs Man Utd and Chelsea

Former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling has surprised football fans with his Premier League top-four prediction by excluding Manchester United and Chelsea from his list.

The 2024-25 Premier League season gets underway on Friday night with Erik ten Hag’s United, who finished eighth last term, facing Fulham at Old Trafford.

Defending champions Manchester City kick-start their title defence on Sunday with a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on big-spending Chelsea.

City are favourites to win an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title but Stelling believes Pep Guardiola’s stranglehold over the trophy is set to come to an end.

If Man City do slip up, Arsenal appear best placed to take advantage following back-to-back second-place finishes under Mikel Arteta, but Stelling has also overlooked the Gunners.

Instead, the popular presenter has backed Jurgen Klopp’s replacement Arne Slot to win the Premier League in his first season at Liverpool.

Stelling does not expect Arsenal and Manchester City to drop off so drastically as to miss out on next season’s Champions League and has tipped Newcastle United to secure the final top-four spot.

That would represent more disappointment for Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea following their respective struggles last season, while it would also leave Aston Villa and Tottenham outside the top-four.

‘I’ve got Arsenal second, but I haven’t gone for the title winner you might expect,’ Stelling told talkSPORT. ‘I’m going for Liverpool to win the title.

‘They had a wobble last season and that cost them. People are making a great deal about the lack of signings but equally they haven’t had any significant losses either.

‘I think a lot of the young players will be better. People will think why are you overlooking Man City and I just think the team has been chipped away a bit over the last few years.

‘Those 115 charges hanging over them must have an effect too. So I’ve gone for Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City as the top-three.

‘I don’t think Man United have enough depth and I would rule Chelsea right out [of the top-four race].

‘If [Dominic] Solanke comes off I think Spurs have a chance and Aston Villa do too if they can cope with the Champions League.

‘Newcastle had a lot of injuries last season and I know a lot of clubs did but if they stay relatively injury-free I think they can get fourth.’

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