Former Arsenal and Chelsea Defender Insists Liverpool Will Not Make Premier League Top Four

• Liverpool will miss the top four positions this season, according to erstwhile Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur centre-half William Gallas
• The ex-France international, who made 321 appearances in the Premier League, believes the absence of Sadio Mane will affect the chances of the Reds
• Mane, who helped Liverpool end their three-decade Premier League drought in the 2020-21 season, joined German giants Bayern Munich this summer for a fee of £35.1 million

Former Arsenal and Chelsea centre-half William Gallas has ruled out Liverpool from his top four predicitons for the 2022-23 Premier League season.

Gallas, who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea also featured for Arsenal and Tottenham during his playing days, believes the absence of Sadio Mane will take a toll on Liverpool's top four ambitions.

His forecast for the top four positions comes in sharp contrast to most of the predictions made by Premier League pundits, with many tipping Manchester City and Liverpool to wrestle for the English top-flight crown.

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City won the Premier League title last season, finishing one point ahead of Liverpool.

Explaining why Liverpool will miss out of the top four, Gallas said: “as an ex-London player, I have to say Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham to win the Premier League,” he told Genting via Liverpool Echo.

“On top four, Liverpool can miss out because they don't have Sadio Mane anymore and Diaz does not have the same impact.

“Liverpool always concede goals too, like we saw against Fulham. Even if I like how Liverpool play, I think it will be City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.”

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Manchester City will be hoping to defend the title for the third time having successfully defended it last season under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.

Metro UK reports that City beat Liverpool to the prestigious crown by just a single point, with the race being decided on the season's final day.