‘I think’: Jamie Redknapp now predicts which teams will fail to make the top-four this season

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Jamie Redknapp has backed Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to make the top-four this season – but feels Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Chelsea will miss out.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points on Saturday while Spurs dropped down to fifth after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Pep Guardiola’s men dropped two points against Everton on Saturday but it looks like they will be the side that will fight it out with the Gunners for the title.

Chelsea have now dropped to eighth in the table after a poor run of form under Graham Potter, while Newcastle have started strongly once again after the World Cup break, despite dropping points against Leeds United.

Manchester United and Liverpool have started to gain some real momentum over the past few games, with Erik Ten Hag’s side leapfrogging Spurs in fourth place over the weekend.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will have the opportunity to jump to fifth place tonight and Redknapp has backed both sides to qualify for the Champions League this season.

Redknapp predicts top-four

Speaking after Tottenham’s surprise defeat to Villa on Sky Sports, Redknapp feels Conte’s men do not have enough quality to regain their place in the Champions League this season.

“I didn’t have them [Spurs] in my top four to start and I still don’t. I don’t think they’ve got quite enough, it’s going to take a lot,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, that’s my four. Listen, a lot is going to change. This is going to be the tightest top four ever.

“You look at Arsenal who have had an incredible start but if we can say Man City are going to catch Arsenal, why can’t Chelsea catch Manchester United? What’s that seven points? There’s so many permutations, so many things can happen.

“You can go on a good run, get an injury for a couple of players – everything can change.”

Arsenal and City certainly look like the two best sides in the league right now and it would be a massive surprise to see either team drop out of the top four.

That leaves just two places up for grabs and it looks like it will be five teams battling out for Champions League qualification.

Tottenham are on a poor run of form and their underwhelming displays seem to be catching up on them. Conte’s men looked like they would be the side closest to their north London rivals and City earlier this season, but they are slipping down the table.

Liverpool have improved dramatically in recent weeks and despite not being at their best, they’re now consistently picking up results once again.

Ten Hag is doing a brilliant job at Old Trafford, while the same can be said about Eddie Howe’s impact at St James’ Park.

Chelsea do look off the pace right now but they are already making moves in the January market and backing Potter. It’s set to be an intriguing battle for the top-four places in the league with five sides currently in the mix.