- Paul Merson thinks Manchester City are at risk of finishing outside the top five
- City will host Bournemouth on Tuesday before visiting Fulham five days later
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Paul Merson has admitted he is worried about Manchester City’s top-five hopes as the Premier League season heads for a thrilling final-day finish — but fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Chelsea are in greater danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
The Sky Sports duo were reacting after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday, a result that moved the Gunners closer to securing second place behind Liverpool. Attention now turns to the congested battle for third, fourth and fifth – with five teams separated by just one point heading into the final week of fixtures.
Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa all sit on 66 points, while Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are just behind on 65. The top five clubs in England’s top flight will qualify for next season’s Champions League via their final position. They will also be joined by either Manchester United or Tottenham, depending on who wins Wednesday’s Europa League final in Bilbao.
Merson, speaking after Declan Rice’s first-half strike settled a tense encounter at the Emirates on Sunday, said City’s recent form should concern supporters after Pep Guardiola’s men lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
‘Chelsea are fourth, if they get beat they could end up seventh,’ Merson said. ‘I’d have to go with Newcastle safe because Everton haven’t got a lot to play for.
‘My worry is Man City. They’ve failed to score in their last two games, they’ve got Bournemouth coming up and that’s a dangerous game. If they don’t get anything out of it, it’s out of their hands. All you can ask for is it to be in your hands – and right now, it’s only in Newcastle, Chelsea and Man City’s hands as we talk.’
After losing the FA Cup final, Man City head into the final week of the season sixth in the table
Just one point separates third place from seventh spot going into the final week of the season
Paul Merson is worried for City and thinks they could fail to qualify for the Champions League
Redknapp agreed that City face a tricky test but believes Chelsea are in the most danger, with a daunting trip to Nottingham Forest on the final day.
‘Bournemouth are an excellent side and it’s not exactly going to be party time at Man City after yesterday’s result,’ he said, referencing Saturday’s Wembley defeat by Palace.
‘They’re going to have to create the atmosphere themselves, it won’t be easy. They’ve got two tough games. Fulham won again today and they’re going to want to finish as high as possible.
‘I think Chelsea have got the toughest game – to go to Forest, that’s a really difficult game. It’s going to be tight, this – anything can still happen. It will be Kevin De Bruyne’s last game and he’s going to want to go out on a high. I still think they’ll do it, but it’s not going to be easy by any stretch.’
Forest, fresh from a 2-1 win at West Ham, are unbeaten in their last three league games and could leapfrog Chelsea with a win at the City Ground next weekend.
Redknapp also tipped Villa to take advantage of their remaining fixture – away to Manchester United – describing it as the ‘easiest’ of the final games.
City, who have a game in hand, face Bournemouth on Tuesday before travelling to Fulham on the final day. Chelsea must win at Forest, while Newcastle will hope to get the job done at home to Everton.
Les Ferdinand, also in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday, backed Guardiola’s men to recover from their Wembley disappointment. ‘I think they’ll do it,’ he said. ‘It’s City. We know they can produce and turn up when they need to.’
Jamie Redknapp expects Man City to get the job done but he thinks Chelsea could fall short
Chelsea will end their Premier League campaign with a trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa’s final fixture of the 2024-25 campaign will be away at 16th-placed Man United
