Arsene Wenger was right that finishing inside the top four is an achievement, says Jamie Carragher
Wenger has often been criticised for saying Champions League qualification for his Arsenal side was like winning a trophy.
But Carragher says the competition at the top of the Premier League has made doing so much harder.
Instead of just four teams almost being guaranteed of finishing inside the top four at the start of a season, the Liverpool legend admits it is now between six sides.
Carragher reckons the title will go to one of the three biggest spenders this season, in Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
I think top four is an achievement now, certainly for Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal
Jamie Carragher on the Premier League top four
And the other three, Liverpool, Arsenal and perhaps on a lesser extent Tottenham, can only fight for the final Champions League spot.
“We’ve always criticised Arsene Wenger for saying top four was an achievement,” Jamie Carragher told The Telegraph’s Total Football podcast.
“I think top four is an achievement now, certainly for Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal.
“You name those three who probably spend the most money who go for the league, I’d say the other three are probably going for the last position.
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“Maybe not Tottenham, I might be doing them a disservice there, I think they could go for the league.
“But it was always a top four when we played and you knew at the start of the season you’d make the Champions League.
“There was always Arsenal and Manchester United going for the league and it would be us or Leeds, us or Newcastle, or Chelsea, trying to get the last two positions for the top four really.
“Now it feels like a top six, where if you’re outside the top four it’s going to look like a nightmare season.”
