Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES
Gary Neville has predicted that Nottingham Forest will drop out of the top five, despite commending Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as the ‘story of the season’ in the Premier League.
Former Manchester United and England right-back Gary Neville, known for his insightful analysis and candid opinions has shared his predictions for the top five finishers in the Premier League this season.
Neville believes that Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Aston Villa will secure the top five spots in the Premier League. He expressed admiration for Nottingham Forest’s remarkable performance this season, describing them as the “story of the season.” However, he also expressed concerns about their ability to maintain their position in the top five, citing recent defeats and upcoming challenging fixtures.
I think Nottingham Forest have been absolutely amazing, the story of the season. But I think they’ll find it hard to hang on,’ Neville told Sky Sports while predicting a top five of Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Newcastle and Villa.
‘I hope they hang on in there but my feeling is it’s going to be tough for them.
‘I think City, Villa, Newcastle and Chelsea might just [pip Forest]. Yes, 12 games is a long way to go but I still feel like it could be a long 12 games for Nottingham Forest.
‘I hope that they do stay there because that would be amazing for the Premier League. We need to see clubs that have been at the bottom one season getting towards the top six and the top four. That’s what the league needs.
‘We’re worried at the moment about the fact that the three that come up go down quite a bit and we don’t want that familiarity and predictability in the league. We need it to be the most unpredictable league in the world.
‘There’s a long way to go. Chelsea, I’m 50-50. At the moment I’m saying City, Newcastle and Villa in the top five but it could easily be Forest and Chelsea. I think it’s really so close.
Neville highlighted the importance of unpredictability in the Premier League, emphasizing the need for clubs that have been at the bottom to rise towards the top. He mentioned that the league benefits from having a diverse range of clubs competing at the highest level, rather than the same teams dominating year after year.
While Neville is confident in his top five predictions, he acknowledged that the race is still wide open, with several clubs, including Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, having the potential to break into the top five. He praised Aston Villa’s recent performance under Unai Emery and believes that their victory over Chelsea could be a turning point for the team.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings