Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville is backing Chelsea and Leicester to finish in the Champions League places this season.

With Manchester City having all but sewn up the title, and United expected to finish comfortably in second, Neville’s attention has been drawn to who will finish directly below the Manchester clubs. He feels the Foxes won’t miss out on the top four like they did last year, although he is backing Chelsea to leapfrog them in the table:

“I don’t see West Ham catching Leicester, and the teams below them are so inconsistent and seem to be all over the place. I’m not sure which one of them is going to put a run together. They’re capable of it, some of them, but I would think this Leicester team would hang on, and would cement the fact Brendan Rodgers has done a brilliant job two years on the bounce.”

“Last year, they were so unlucky to miss out on the last day to Manchester United, whereas this year I think they’ll make top four, with Chelsea third and Leicester fourth.”

As well as West Ham, it appears Neville is also dismissing Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton’s chances of making it into the Champions League.

On form, you would have to say that Neville is correct with his selections. Leicester have been consistently one of the four best teams in the league this campaign, while Chelsea are unbeaten since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as manager. However, it must be said, a lot could happen in the final nine rounds of fixtures between now and May.