Harry Redknapp believes Chelsea are not in the race for the Premier League title this season and believes that either Tottenham, Manchester City or Liverpool will lift the title when all is said and done.
The former Spurs manager shared that the Blues being too reliant on Eden Hazard and not having a frontman was keeping them from being genuine title contenders this season.
While Redknapp ruled out the possibility of Chelsea and Arsenal being league champions this season, he did believe that the division was set to witness a great title race as it had already taken a big twist with Liverpool now being the favourites.
“I think it’s a three horse race,” shared Redknapp on Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast, as transcribed by talkSPORT’s website.
“Liverpool are the favourites now which is a big turnaround.
“But Tottenham are in great form at the moment and they are genuine title contenders.
“Spurs are still in it, you can’t write them off. They are bang there, the way they are playing at the moment.
“I can’t see anybody else getting into it.
“I watched Arsenal yesterday and they are nowhere near in my opinion. I know they’ve had injuries, but at the back they are still very poor.
“And Chelsea are just so reliant on Eden Hazard. Without him you couldn’t really see them challenging, they’re still short of a frontman.
“So really, I think there are three runners and I think it will be very tight.
“It’s going to be a great title race this year.”
OPINION
It’s hard to agree with Redknapp that the Premier League title is unlikely to be heading to Stamford Bridge this season even though it does seem a little early to rule them completely out of the race for it. After beating Watford 2-1 on Boxing Day, thanks to a brace by Eden Hazard, the Blues sit fourth in the table eleven points behind current league leaders Liverpool. Yet the Blues are only four points behind Man City and five points off Spurs which means it isn’t crazy to imagine them being able to catch up with either of those sides. While Redknapp has a point when claiming Chelsea are too reliant on Hazard if they get the right forward through the doors of Stamford Bridge in January quickly then his other point would be voided. Therefore while it would be hard for Chelsea fans to be aggrieved with Redknapp’s assessment of their chances of winning the Premier League, they perhaps have ground to be miffed about him counting them out so early.