Sutton rules one club out of PL title race in revised prediction

Chris Sutton doesn’t think Manchester United can compete for the Premier League title this season despite having “guaranteed goals” from Cristiano Ronaldo.

It’s tight at the top of the Premier League after seven matches, with two points separating Man Utd in fourth and Chelsea in first.

The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton at the weekend with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side winning just twice in their last six matches in all competitions.

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The poor nature of their performances has seen the pressure ramp up on Solskjaer and Sutton can’t see them challenging for the title this campaign.

“It’s a three-horse race in my book, between Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool,” Sutton wrote in the Daily Mail.

“Had Man City signed a striker in the summer, they’d probably have walked this Premier League. Blindfolds and cigarettes may as well have been handed out to their rivals.

“But the fact that Manchester City did not get themselves a [Romelu] Lukaku is where it gets interesting.

“Chelsea did and they are completely in this race. As are Liverpool with Salah, Mane and Jota singing from the same hymn sheet.

“But I don’t consider United to be title contenders this season. They’re guaranteed goals from [Cristiano] Ronaldo but concede too many and Solskjaer still hasn’t got his tactics right.”

Chelsea are currently one point clear of Liverpool at the summit and Sutton insists the Blues have no excuses not to be up there come the end of the season.

Sutton added: “They have strength in depth. We’re talking about the team who won the Champions League last season and then spent £97.5 million adding a striker to it.

“Romelu Lukaku is looking lean, mean and like he’s got a point to prove to those who sanctioned his 2014 sale away from Stamford Bridge.

“The fact that Chelsea signed him while Manchester City failed to get Harry Kane was a real shot in the arm for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

“Behind Lukaku, they’ve got Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and more.

“They lost to Manchester City in the Premier League, and then to Juventus in the Champions League. That was a blip, as far as Tuchel was concerned.

“The important thing is Chelsea bounced back against Southampton at the weekend, with some help from their B-listers.

“Ruben Loftus-Cheek stood out, and so did sub Ross Barkley. Tuchel cannot say he doesn’t have a team capable of finishing first in the Premier League.”