Ex-Man United star Rio Ferdinand predicts Premier League top four: Tottenham to miss out

While traditional powerhouses like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool are expected to dominate the top three, Ferdinand believes Manchester United will claim the final Champions League place, with Tottenham Hotspur missing out.

Tottenham, along with Chelsea and Manchester United, have struggled to find consistency in the early stages of the campaign.

In contrast, Newcastle and Aston Villa have started strongly, with Eddie Howe and Unai Emery’s sides looking poised to challenge for a European spot. However, Ferdinand remains confident that United can bounce back from their slow start.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand shared his top-four prediction: “With that being said, where would you put us at the end of the season? What are you going for? I went for a top four of Arsenal, City, Liverpool and then us, United, in that order.”

Despite Manchester United’s sluggish opening to the season, Ferdinand is optimistic about their ability to turn things around.

While the traditional top-four finish is the primary goal, it’s important to note that fifth place could also offer a route to Champions League qualification due to the new extended format.

Ferdinand acknowledged this possibility but emphasised that securing fourth place remains the priority.

With over 30 games left in the season, Ferdinand’s prediction highlights how much can change as teams find their form.

Whether Manchester United can recover and claim that final Champions League spot remains to be seen, but Tottenham, Chelsea, and other contenders will be fighting hard to upset the established order.