Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, England icon Stuart Pearce tips Chelsea to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Pearce backs Mohamed Salah for the Golden Boot, with João Pedro as an outsider and makes the bold prediction that Arsenal will drop out of the top-four.
Player of the Season
I would probably go with Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool as my player of the season tip. I think if you ask any Liverpool fan who their best player was last year, bearing in mind they had Mohamed Salah in the ranks and Virgil van Dijk, who were magnificent for long periods of the season, I think Gravenberch in midfield surprised a lot of people by how well he’d done.
I think if he can continue that, he’s probably on the radar of people taking notice of him a little bit more than just Liverpool fans now. So I’d probably go for him if I’m being honest with you. I think a lot of people will be looking at him now because of what he did last year and his level of consistency in Liverpool’s midfield.
Golden Boot Race
You’re a braver man than I am if you’re going to bet against Mohamed Salah to win the Golden Boot. An outside bet might be João Pedro because you would think that Chelsea are going to be better than they were last year.
Chelsea didn’t have a great season but are now World Club Cup Champions as well as winning the Conference League, so that might be an indication on how they are going in next season. I think probably the second half of the season was much more consistent from Chelsea, and it’s an indicator on what you might see next year.
Chelsea could be one of those teams that are really close to the top of the table. Even last season, we thought they might be the side to challenge Liverpool. João Pedro’s got a bit to do, so I’m not seeing beyond Salah, I think he’s well-wised.
You know he’s going to play every game. The manager never takes him off the pitch, and he never rests him. If you’re going to finish above Salah, you’ve got to get 20-odd goals without a doubt. That is for sure.
Top Four Contenders
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle. I would say Liverpool are the favourites to win it, with Chelsea second favourites. I would be a little bit nervous about putting money on Manchester City to win the title.
I still think they’re in that transitional period. They’ve lost a few players, some of the senior names in the squad are getting on, the one thing they’ve got in their favour is having probably the best manager in the world. But I think Liverpool and Chelsea might be better valued.
If I’m going to put my neck out and say that I think Chelsea and Liverpool, as two others, I don’t think you’ll ever see Man City finishing outside the top four. I think Arsenal have a battle here to keep Newcastle at bay. I really do.
I think Newcastle, with Anthony Elanga coming in, that makes them very, very strong. I think one or two people have been a little bit underwhelmed with Arsenal’s recruitment this summer at the moment. So maybe Newcastle, I’m going to tip Arsenal finishing outside the top four.
Vardy’s Premier League Fit
Can Jamie Vardy still perform in the Premier League? I think yes, with the experience he’s got, and he’s still got a good physical base.
I would say a club like Leeds would suit him, where he could lean on his experience and what he stands for. I think that’s a more realistic place to pitch him rather than Manchester United, I think a newly promoted side like Leeds, with their fanbase, that could suit both parties.
Promoted Teams’ Survival
A lot of it will come down to recruitment. Last time they came up, Burnley tried to play in a free-flowing way with Vincent Kompany, and it just didn’t work, but they kept doing it and week after week, and they were conceding goals.pr
Scotty Parker is more pragmatic and decisive; their defensive record last year was absolutely magnificent. I think with that defensive record and that mindset, they might have a better chance of staying in the league.
I think both Burnley and Leeds have got a chance of staying up. Recruitment will play a big part this summer. I can’t put a case up for Sunderland at the moment. I really can’t.
I hope they make a good fist of it. I really do. I think to have three teams get promoted and go straight back down like they did last year is not good for the Premier League personally, let alone the three teams. But I think that Burnley, playing a slightly different way than they did when they came up a couple of years ago, and Leeds with the fanbase and Elland Road and everything that goes with it, I think maybe those two might have a chance.
Relegated Teams’ Promotion
I think the consistency at Ipswich, what they’ve got to do is make sure that Portman Road becomes a fortress, because last year it was awful. Their home form was awful.
That was the one thing you thought might keep them in the Premier League. I think the consistency of management is a big thing. And Kieran McKenna still being at the helm is a big thing.
Southampton are a little bit too hit and miss at the moment. Out of the three of them, I would say Ipswich, I would say might have the best chance of promotion.
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