
Former Chelsea star Chris Sutton has delivered a bold prediction that will surprise Blues fans, suggesting that Chelsea will fail to finish in the Premier League top four this season.
Instead, Sutton has backed Bournemouth to clinch an unlikely Champions League spot, citing their incredible form under Andoni Iraola.
The race for the top four is fiercely competitive, with Liverpool and Arsenal looking assured of qualification. Nottingham Forest, this season’s surprise package, currently sit third with 44 points. Manchester City and Newcastle follow closely on 41 points, while Chelsea and Bournemouth are tied on 40, with Aston Villa trailing by three.
Enzo Maresca’s side had an opportunity to solidify their position in the top four when they faced Manchester City at the Etihad. Despite an early goal, Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat, extending their poor run of form to just one win in seven games—a streak that has dashed their title hopes and cast doubt over their top-four aspirations.
Sutton, speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, was emphatic in his prediction:
“Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Bournemouth. Bournemouth are one of the stories of the season. I don’t think anybody saw a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Bournemouth are seventh now in the Premier League, absolutely flying. They’ve got so many injuries; imagine when they get the full team back!”
The Cherries’ rise under Iraola has been extraordinary. Historically, their best-ever Premier League finish was ninth, and a top-four spot would be a monumental achievement for the club, which has never played in European competition in its 126-year history.
Meanwhile, Man United legend Gary Neville also weighed in on the Blues’ struggles, highlighting their lack of a killer instinct.
“There’s a lot of talent out on that pitch and they’re ahead of teams in terms of talent like Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth who are doing unbelievably well, Manchester United, Tottenham. But if you score a goal, if you can see that the other team are vulnerable, if you sense there is a nervousness in the ground, you have to be able to adapt.”
Neville pointed to key moments in the match against City as missed opportunities:
“There’s some experience out there, Caicedo, Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Reece James… they must have sensed that at that point in the game that you had to go for the jugular. They missed a real opportunity because they didn’t smell the football match. Chelsea let them [City] off the hook and that’s something that comes down to mentality, something that the coach has got to develop in the team.”
As the Premier League season heats up, Chelsea will need to rediscover their form quickly to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. The Blues will have the chance to bounce back when they host West Ham next Monday, with fans hoping Maresca’s side can prove Sutton and other skeptics wrong.
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