Gary Neville makes final Premier League top-five prediction with Chelsea missing out
Gary Neville has revealed his final Premier League top-five prediction as five clubs battle for three Champions League spots.
Champions Liverpool and likely runners-up Arsenal have already booked their place in next year’s Champions League ahead of the final day of the season next Sunday.
Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are all hoping to join them in Europe’s premier club competition.
Currently third, Newcastle missed the chance to all but secure Champions League football and leapfrog Arsenal into second as they were beaten 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
But victory at home to Everton next weekend would see Newcastle return to the Champions League in the same season they ended their long trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup.
Fourth-placed Chelsea travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on the final day in a huge game in the top-five battle.
Chelsea beat Premier League struggles Manchester United on Friday night and Forest picked up a crucial win over West Ham later in the weekend.
Aston Villa saw off Tottenham comfortably last time out and face Spurs’ Europa League final opponents Manchester United on the final day as Unai Emery looks to bring more Champions League nights to Villa Park.
Manchester City are currently outside the Champions League places but have a game in hand over than their top-five rivals and face Bournemouth on Tuesday night and Fulham on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten by Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final but Neville expects City to make a strong response and qualify for the Champions League.
The ex-England defender also believes Newcastle and Aston Villa will finish in the top-five, tipping Chelsea and Nottingham Forest for Champions League heartbreak.
‘That was a really important win for Nottingham Forest,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast after Sunday’s Premier League matches.
‘They’re still up against it a little bit and they’ve got a big game coming up next weekend. Obviously Man City still have two games but they’re two difficult games actually.
‘Bournemouth are a tasty opposition and then they’ve got Fulham on the final day. City will be flat after losing the cup final. They need to get themselves back up for those games and finish the job off.
‘There’s a lot to play for in the next week and a lot of money at stake.
‘At the moment I think Man City will just get in there, I think Newcastle will get in there and I think Aston Villa might just sneak in.
‘I think Forest might just hamper Chelsea next weekend and Aston Villa should win at Old Trafford, everyone is beating Man United at the minute.’
