Jamie Carragher believes that Chelsea will miss the Champions League football next season, after a 2-0 defeat against fellow top-five hunters Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
The already tight race to secure a place in the Premier competition of European football took a turn to St James' park, after goals from Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes Newcastle Edge beer out the 10-man Blues and climb to third place.
The result leaves the men of Enzo Maresca in the last Champions League place, at 63 points, with only two games from their Topsy-Turvy season.
Aston Villa, however, breathes in their necks, after an essential victory in Bournemouth had drawn them level at points with the West -London side.
Prior to the result of the weekend, Opta's Supercomputer predicted that Chelsea would end in the top five earlier than the side of Unai Emery, because they were tipped to also dismiss Nottingham Forest, who slid to Leicester at home.
However, Carragher – who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 – is not so convinced that Chelsea will make its way back to the European elite.
'Chelsea will beat Man United. It is as if they can beat Nottingham Forest. There will be a big atmosphere there, “Carragher told Sky Sports.
'Maybe even if they can't get Champions League football, I think Nottingham Forest, last match of the season, the supporters will be desperate to almost say as a big thank you for the season they have had.
“They have European football, great achievement. I actually think it will be Chelsea and Nottingham Forest who miss and board Aston Villa. '
Maresca's Blues takes Manchester United in 16th place in their last home game of the season, next Friday.
They then close the campaign in Fellow Champions League Hopefuls Forest, who has protected European football for the first time in three decades.
Villa also has to play United to close the season, while they also assume the other Europa League finalists, Tottenham.
Chelsea's target difference of 19 is much superior to that of villas seven, so their destination is in their own hands on their way to the last part.
With Forest, however, at the point under the blues, who have not played in the Champions League for two seasons, the men of Maresca were able to finish the season as low as seventh as they lose on the city on the last day.