Jamie Carragher and Craig Bellamy both fancy Newcastle United to qualify for next season's Champions League.
A top-five finish in the Premier League is likely to be enough to book a spot in Europe's top competition next term and Newcastle jumped into fifth place on Monday night by cruising to a 3-0 win away at Leicester.
Speaking on Sky Sports after that game, pundits Jamie Carragher and Craig Bellamy were put on the spot and asked to predict which five teams they expect to be flying the flag for England in the next edition of the Champions League.
Both former players tipped Chelsea to miss out on the top five, despite Enzo Maresca's men currently sitting in fourth, while it was mutually assumed that Liverpool and Arsenal would qualify.
Aston Villa are seventh right now but - along with second-placed Arsenal - still in this season's Champions League.
Carragher predicted that Villa would 'just miss out' but Bellamy backed them to finish in the top five, with Welshman also suggesting that Unai Emery's men could even secure qualification by becoming European champions this season.
Bellamy said: 'Newcastle from what we have seen tonight and the momentum of just winning a first cup in numerous years, I have got a feeling with Newcastle.
'Man City are usually in the hunt for leagues so it is not uncommon for them to be in this pressure stage and Villa, I have got a funny feeling with Aston Villa and the Champions League you know.
'I felt it in September, the manager’s experience at this level, they are organised and have powerful options. I felt of all the British teams, Aston Villa is the one to watch out for in this tournament.
'Would we all like to see Forest? Who wouldn’t? I grew up in the 1980s with Brian Clough, they are a special club because of that man. It would be a great story but my feeling is towards Newcastle, Man City and Aston Villa.
Carragher added: 'Looking at the fixtures and Newcastle have a game in hand, I think Nottingham Forest will just do it, I think Chelsea will miss out as they have the toughest fixtures.
'Newcastle will make it and I think Man City will just make it as well. Those last four fixtures, you would expect Man City to win all four, even with the troubles they have had this season. I think Aston Villa will just miss out.'
Zaptoez
1
Make season end first, we go know
Jaaeintyz
1
why does this guy hate Chelsea
yezalors
0
kuhklpstz
0
that foolish carraga who don't know how to play football always talking about this football what's rong with you
waedmnoruz
0
Chelsea coach is useless and average in his thinking our best shot was to win against Brentford at all costs but the coach choose to experiment once again because he don't know how champion league qualification is important more than conference league all he cares about is to win that average conference league trophy.
dacblnorsu
1
Chelsea will not only qualify, Chelsea will remain in 4th position, you can screenshot this to keep and these deluded non achievers will still come here and change the story. I think whenever carraghan remember what Solar did to him, he's always hating Chelsea 😤😤
suhaeikmp
2
Keep ur opinion to urself.
Cukaknort
1
is not by mouth and we don't care about what this 2 migrimor say.
Hudadenuy
1
since Chelsea and their management are not ready for a serious business this season,they should surely miss out on the UEFA champions league spot 😭🙆🙆
princewize
1
I think the table we'll go like this.... 1) Liverpool 2) Arsenal 3) Nottingham Forest 4) Newcastle then 5) Chelsea/ Man City.... just arrow escape from both teams
Daabelpst
1
Idiot , God punish your mouth 👄
Daabelpst
0
Useless man
foabdeprty
0
carager and Bellamy are butt holes wonder what did they archive in football
Newcastle has a chance
ciodlmnost
2
carager and Bellamy are butt holes wonder what did they archive in football
wukblmn
1
Let Chelsea fans be deluded themselves,last Sunday match was a must win and we drew,it seems d board prefer this Chelsea be like dortmond or wenger arsenal, E go shock all of una but not me sha cos am very realistic and not biased
tioiprsu
1
what did you expect carragher to say about chelsea before... useless man