Chelsea won’t make top four – Michael Owen

Former Premier League star Michael Owen has tipped Chelsea to finish outside the top four of the Premier League for the second consecutive time.

The Blues failed to finish in the top four spots at the end of the 2022/23 season, enduring a difficult campaign which saw them play under three managers.

Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard were all in the dugouts for the Blues at some point last season but were able to guide the club to secure Champions League football.

And Owen, who played for Manchester United and Liverpool, says he expects the club to miss out once again on a place in the top four though he expects them to get better.

“I’m going to say Arsenal as well. I don’t think there was a fluke about them last season. They’ve spent incredibly well, really pinpointed three top players already to go into that starting XI,” he said.

“Chelsea are going to improve and Tottenham Hotspur have got a great manager [Ange Postecoglou]. They’re going to be exciting. However, I do think that they might be a team that beat a lot of teams and then might get smashed by one or two teams as well.

“With my sensible head on, though, I’m going to go for Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Premier League starts on Friday, August 11, with Burnley facing Manchester City in the opening fixture.