Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundits rule out Man Utd finishing in top four this season

We are 10 games into the new season and every man and his dog has cast an opinion on who will win the league, who will run them close and who will drop out of the top four.

Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundits Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson and Phil Thompson were asked to give their verdicts on what the top six will look like at the end of the current campaign, and it doesn’t make for pleasant reading.

READ MORE: 15 years ago today, a Portuguese teenager scored his first of many Man Utd goals

They’ve all gone for Manchester City to defend the title after winning it last term with a record-breaking points tally. The Blues are currently on top of the table thanks to a signficiant goal difference, narrowly pushing ahead of Liverpool, who all of the pundits predict to finish second.

In fact, they’ve all gone for the same top three, with Chelsea predicted to finish behind City and the Scousers.

It’s fourth, fifth and sixth that you see mixed predictions.

Nicholas and Pinocchio reckon United will finish sixth, whereas Merson has gone one better with fifth.

I wouldn’t expect anything else from big nose, who I’m shocked to see hasn’t selected Liverpool to win the league for the rest of time.

They thought they’d conquered Europe, celebrating six. Thank you Gareth Bale, made them look like d****. 

The 26th of May, always in our heart. United won the treble, the scousers fell apart. Allez Allez Allez.

Here are the full predictions listed:

Charlie Nicholas

  1. Manchester City
  2. Liverpool
  3. Chelsea
  4. Arsenal
  5. Tottenham
  6. Manchester United

Paul Merson

  1. Manchester City
  2. Liverpool
  3. Chelsea
  4. Tottenham
  5. Manchester United
  6. Arsenal 

Phil ‘Pinocchio’ Thompson

  1. Manchester City
  2. Liverpool
  3. Chelsea
  4. Tottenham
  5. Arsenal
  6. Manchester United

While we respect those who’ve given their predictions (well, some) United aren’t in the strongest position to finish in fourth or higher. We are currently sat in eight place on 17 points from 10 games.

However, there is a slim chance with a good run that United could get back into contention for a top four finish. Arsenal are currently fourth with five more points than United, but you can be sure they will hit a slippery slope at some stage this season. The same goes for Tottenham, who in fifth, lost at home to City on Monday night.

Jose Mourinho needs to fix his defensive issues and ensure that this team continues to get the best out of Anthony Martial. Anything is possible if he and fellow Frenchman, Paul Pogba, start firing in all cylinders.

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