Alan Shearer makes Premier League top four and relegation predictions

Alan Shearer makes his Premier League top four and relegation predictions with the 2021/22 season currently at the halfway point.

As it stands, Manchester City sit 10 points clear at the top of the standings and on a run of 11 successive top-flight wins.

Chelsea, who Shearer had initially backed to win the title before the start of the campaign, are positioned second, while Liverpool occupy third spot.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are in fourth place, with West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester United all within close proximity of the Gunners, while Wolves and Brighton are in 8th and 9th.

Now the former England and Newcastle striker has given some thought into who he thinks will end up finishing where, and it’s got people talking.

He has tipped City, Liverpool and Chelsea to form the top three and Tottenham to finish in fourth.

‘Before a ball was kicked I did say Chelsea [to win the league] – I’m having severe doubts now,’ Shearer told Optus Sport.

‘The run that Man City have been on, they’ve just been relentless and Pep [Guardiola] is just incredible, the way he keeps drilling out results and getting the best out of all of those players that he’s got.

‘It’s difficult with so many good players because every good player wants to play every week and how he handles that is hugely important.

‘So I’ll probably have to say Man City [will win] I don’t think anyone will beat them now.

‘Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea… I’ve been really impressed with Arteta and Arsenal and how he’s handled things, but [Antonio] Conte going into Spurs and with Harry Kane and Son [Heung-min] up front, I think I might say Spurs into fourth position.’

At the bottom of the table, Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich are all in those relegation places, while Watford are sitting two points above the drop zone.

When asked which teams will go down, Shearer said: ‘Probably Norwich, Watford and I always say Burnley will have enough but I’ve watched Burnley a few times in December and been really surprised at how poor they’ve been defensively.

‘I know they don’t concede as many as the other teams in the relegation battle do but then going forward they haven’t scored as much either. They’ve got [Maxwel] Cornet, who can produce spectacular goals.

‘I’m going to say Burnley, let’s hope that Newcastle that are going to get out of it.’

Meanwhile, Shearer has slammed the use of VAR in Aston Villa’s FA Cup clash against Manchester United, claiming it should not have been used if other third round ties did not have the same technology available.

VAR was only in place at Premier League stadiums in this round of FA Cup ties and it was used to chalk off a goal which Villa scored at Old Trafford.

Shearer makes a very good point re the use of VAR at just Premier League grounds in the FA Cup. The lack of consistency is ridiculous. The progression of lower league clubs & giant killings is what keeps the magic alive, yet treated as the poor relation. pic.twitter.com/e5D6p3Q0Dv

— Jamie Raynor (@JamieRaynor) January 10, 2022

Steven Gerrard’s side lost the game 1-0, however did score an equaliser in the 51st minute, before it was ruled out for offside.

Jacob Ramsey was judged to have interfered with play after he stood in an offside position with Villa scoring from a set-price in the second half.

John McGinn’s free kick was headed across the box by Ezri Konsa before Danny Ings tapped in. Again celebrations were short-lived after referee Michael Oliver was advised to check the goal from the pitch-side VAR monitor and subsequently ruled Ings’ goal out.

Shearer said: “We should not be using VAR in this game if we can’t use VAR in every FA Cup game wherever that may be you shouldn’t be using VAR in this game.

“I understand that it’s Premier League grounds only but we were at Hull on Saturday where they should’ve had two penalties if VAR were there, they got dumped out of the Cup because of that.

“Well it was obviously for the foul otherwise they wouldn’t have sent Michael Oliver to the monitor because if it was offside they would’ve ruled it offside clearly.

“I’m not 100% certain that Cavani was getting back for the goal. He’s clever and I think he’s been done and he doesn’t attempt at all to get around him.

“Some would say he doesn’t have to but is it a clear and obvious error? I don’t think it is because I’m not certain Cavani is going to get to the ball.”

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