Chelsea have been warned that their place in the top four at the end of the season is at risk after an inconsistent start to their campaign. The Blues currently sit seventh after 13 games played, registering six wins so far in the Premier League under two different managers.
Thomas Tuchel started the campaign, but was dismissed after just a few games as the new ownership looked to hire someone that fit their vision for the club. That man ended up being Graham Potter, who joined from Brighton after impressing with the Seagulls in recent years.
With a squad in flux, the west London outfit have struggled so far, with their final match before the World Cup break against high-flying Newcastle offering a chance to end on a high note. The Magpies themselves are eyeing a top four finish, sitting third after rocketing up the league under Eddie Howe.
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With the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and even potentially Brighton all vying for a top four finish, it will be a tough season for Chelsea to muscle their way into next season's Champions League. It's led to Graeme Souness warning the Blues of dropping out of the reckoning.
He told talkSPORT: "I think both of them will be in the top four," when asked on Liverpool and Tottenham's chances. "I think Chelsea are in jeopardy, a lot depends on what they do in the transfer window. Arsenal are looking convincing at the moment, they look like a really good team. But I think everyone is playing for second place this season."
It echoes the sentiment of Emmanuel Petit, who told Lord Ping: "Chelsea need a reaction, they have to get points if they want to finish in the top four. The competition will be fierce and Chelsea are far away. It doesn't matter how they win points, they just need to win.
"For me, Man City will win the Premier League title, Arsenal will finish second, Liverpool will finish third and I think Newcastle will beat Tottenham, Chelsea and Man United to the fourth spot."
It remains to be seen if the Blues will be in relative danger for a top four place this season, however the competition is likely to cause plenty of problems for all sides in the race.
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