Rio Ferdinand thinks Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are in battle for final Champions League place [Metro]

Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be duking it out for the final Champions League qualification spot this season....

Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be duking it out for the final Champions League qualification spot this season.

The former Manchester United defender thinks his old side are in a two way battle for the title and Tottenham will come third.

With just one place in the top four up for grabs Ferdinand thinks two of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be disappointed – while champions Leicester won’t even get a look in.

‘I reckon it [the title] is between Man United and Man City. Tottenham. And then it’s one of Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool,’ the former England international told Metro.co.uk.

Explaining why he thinks the title will be between the two Manchester clubs, the BT pundit said: ‘I think you can’t look past the two managers, very influential. Coming from two different places.

Obviously someone like Jose [Mourinho], after the season he had at Chelsea, he’ll want to prove that was a one off. He’s come with a real focus and I think that’s dangerous for other teams. He’s got that hunger back in his system. With Pep, he is a proven, serial winner of titles wherever he’s been. It makes for a real good season.’

Liverpool have the ability to mix up the top four thinks Ferdinand, but there is a crucial element to that happening.

‘For Liverpool it depends on [Daniel] Sturridge. If he can prove his fitness they’ll have a chance, but without him I don’t think they’re in with a shot.’

Meanwhile Leicester will struggle to replicate their stunning run to the title last season now that teams are wised up to the tactics employed by Claudio Ranieri.

‘How are Leicester going to deal with teams who know exactly what to expect? People were saying even until February/April time they were going to fall away and now people know what they’re about. Can they still produce the results they did when people know to expect [Jamie] Vardy to be running behind, [Danny] Drinkwater to play balls into the channels for him… Are they going to be as high or deeper against them?’

He continued: ‘No [N’Golo] Kante… probably the most important player for them. I’d like to see them do well and repeat but we’ll see. We asked the same questions of Harry Kane last season and he did repeat it. 

[Champions League] is another thing. More games, more attention on them, more focus. Can they remain focused? A lot of questions to be answered for Leicester but good questions.’

The season starts on Saturday 13 August.

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