Former Arsenal and Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna suspects Liverpool have dropped too many points in the early stages of the season to be confident of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The Reds have only won two of their first six fixtures and already sit nine points behind league-leaders Arsenal, who have played one more game. The Gunners are strong candidates to secure Champions League qualification after their blistering start to the season, as are local rivals Tottenham.
Spurs, like defending champions City, are undefeated after winning five out of their seven fixtures to sit hot on Arsenal's heels. Elsewhere, Brighton occupy fourth and a resurgent Manchester United have risen to fifth in the table, but Sagna predicts Chelsea and Liverpool will battle it out for the final spot - and suggested the Blues have the advantage.
"I do think Liverpool are the team who could fall out of the top four this season based on the opening seven matches so far, simply because they have dropped quite a few points already," Sagna told Lord Ping. "They are already nine points behind Arsenal in first and, mentally, it is hard to close the gap when all the teams above them keep winning. It will be a test for the players, and I think this is something new for most of them.
"I think Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City will definitely finish in the top four. Then you only have one spot left, which will be fought between Liverpool and Chelsea.
"Liverpool can't afford to drop any more points at the moment. Now, the league will really go quickly before it breaks for the World Cup. Liverpool don't want to be in a position where they are a long way behind when the league stops in November. It won't be easy to restart the season after the World Cup – they need to stay within touching distance of the other teams."
Do you agree with Bacary Sagna's predictions for the Premier League top four? Have your say in the comments!
If Liverpool were indeed to drop out of the top four, it would mark a drastic fall from grace for a team which finished one point behind City during a riveting title race last season. Not only that, the Reds have pushed Pep Guardiola's side all the way for the last four years, coming out on top in the 2019/20 campaign.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are one point ahead of Liverpool after an underwhelming start of their own and must get to grips with life under a new manager. Graham Potter was appointed earlier this month following Thomas Tuchel's dismissal and is yet to take charge of his first Premier League game due to the postponements which followed the death of the Queen.
