Graeme Souness has written off Arsenal and Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the top-four of the Premier League this season but is backing Manchester United to qualify for a Champions League place.
Arsenal looked on course for a top-four finish in Unai Emery’s first season in charge but endured a dismal run of form to fall away towards the end of the campaign.
Chelsea had no such problems, amassing 72 points across the year to finish third despite the tension surrounding former manager Maurizio Sarri and his style of football at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri has since been replaced by club legend Frank Lampard but Souness cannot see the former England midfielder securing a place in the top four in his first season as a Premier League manager.
Instead, Souness reckons Manchester United will break into the top four, particularly after the Red Devils bolstered Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad with the £80million signing of Harry Maguire.
‘I still think, even though Maguire will make them better, it doesn’t make them good enough to challenge at the top,’ Souness said when about United’s hopes for the new season.
‘I see it being between the big two again [champions Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool. The nearest challengers will be Tottenham – and after that United.
‘Neither Arsenal or Chelsea are good enough.’
Some have questioned Manchester United’s £80m move for Leicester City and England star Maguire but Souness believes he can have a similar impact at Old Trafford as Virgil van Dijk has had at Liverpool.
‘If things aren’t going well, he [Maguire] is someone who will step into midfield to make things happen. There’s so much to like about him,’ Souness added.
‘As well as the quality he brings himself, it’s the knock-on effect this will have on the rest. Teams liked playing United last year – they were vulnerable defensively. But that has definitely changed now.
‘Not just because of Maguire’s own input but the calming influence he’ll have – like Van Dijk – on those around him.’
