Neville tips Chelsea for second place but backs Arsenal to claim Premier League title

Gary Neville has predicted Chelsea will finish second in the Premier League this season under Xabi Alonso, while backing Arsenal to win the title after their emphatic start to the campaign.

Speaking on Monday Night Football ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham at Craven Cottage, Neville said the Blues had done enough in the transfer window to separate themselves from the chasing pack — but stopped short of suggesting they could overhaul the Gunners. “It’s a big ask, with the quality Arsenal have, the strength they have, the confidence,” he said. “But I think Chelsea, looking at the rest of [the contenders], and what Chelsea have done in this transfer window, I think they’re in a good place. They could push for second.”

Arsenal had set the early-season tone with back-to-back 3-0 victories — first over Manchester City in the Community Shield and then over Coventry City in their Premier League opener — despite carrying a number of injury and fitness concerns into the new campaign.

Elsewhere in the opening weekend, Manchester City snatched a late winner against Bournemouth, Liverpool required a stoppage-time penalty to draw with Newcastle United, and both Manchester United and Tottenham suffered defeats to Hull City and Brentford respectively.

Chelsea’s summer business centred on the arrivals of Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix, both of whom started against Fulham. Enzo Fernandez, who has been linked with a move to City, was named among the substitutes.

Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher echoed Neville’s cautious optimism about the Blues’ prospects. “We’re looking at Chelsea doing OK on the fact Alonso has come in — it feels they’ve done really well to get a manager of that calibre, given how poor last season was — and the fact they have no European football, and they’ve been in the transfer market,” Carragher said.

“There’s definitely a shift there. They’ve realised mistakes they’ve made in the past. Chelsea have got five or six really top players. Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix could add to that. They’re the two signings I really look at. If you add them to those five or six players and they perform well and settle in, that’s why we think they could have a really good season.”