Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Hungary
Lithuania
Nigeria
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Ferdinand picks his 3 Premier League teams to go down as bottom five cut adrift

mirror.co.uk, 25 January 2022, 09:53
The former Manchester United defender - speaking before Hodgson has been confirmed as the Hornets boss - thinks that transfer business and the current winter break will be factors

Rio Ferdinand is backing Newcastle United to pull away from the Premier League relegation zone, before splashing the cash in the summer.

Eddie Howe's side earned just their second league victory of the season at Leeds United on Saturday, with Jonjo Shelvey's solitary strike earning the points.

January signings Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood both started and played 90 minutes at Elland Road, and Ferdinand has been impressed with the manner of the Magpies' recruitment since their multi-million Saudi Arabia takeover in October.

"I think Newcastle will stay up and then do big business in the summer. I think they'll go big in the summer," Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.

"They seem to be doing it more meticulous and strategic and less gung-ho than other teams who have had money straight away."

Newcastle's win wasn't enough to take them out of the relegation zone, with Norwich's impressive 3-0 victory at fellow relegation candidates Watford on Friday night moving them out of the bottom three and making it back-to-back wins in the Premier League following January 15's 2-1 victory over Everton, who also find themselves in trouble.

That Carrow Road loss led to the sacking of Rafael Benitez as Blues boss, but interim boss Duncan Ferguson wasn't able to see an upturn in fortunes when his side took on Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Toffees lost 1-0 at home to Steven Gerrard's side, and are just four points outside the drop zone with 19 points from 20 matches.

Back in the bottom three, Watford sacked Claudio Ranieri off the back of the Norwich defeat, with veteran boss Roy Hodgson soon to come in to replace him until the end of the season.

Burnley sit bottom, although having played as many as four games fewer than Norwich due to both weather and Covid-19 postponements, although they did pick up a point from a goalless draw at Arsenal last time out.

Ferdinand thinks that Everton, who are still without a permanent boss, should have enough to stay away from trouble along with Newcastle, with Norwich, Watford and Burnley going down.

"Before Norwich went on this run they're on at the moment I had them as certainties to go down. They've come out of nowhere but this break has killed their momentum," he continued.

"I think the bottom five are cut adrift. I'm going with Burnley, Watford and I think Norwich will get dragged back into it too.

"If this break hadn't have happened I would give them a chance, but I think the break will ruin their momentum.

"I think Newcastle get out of it. I think they add one or two players [during the rest of the window] who will make an impact."

Show more

Top News

21 March 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly was the star of the show on his England debut as his goal helped new boss Thomas Tuchel get off to a winning start. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arne Slot could lose a number of forwards in the summer transfer window but may also be boosted by the arrival of additions, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Thomas Tuchel started his England tenure with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Albania in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will hope to maintain their first-leg lead and advance into League A of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday when they travel to Puskas Arena to take on Hungary. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly created England history by becoming the youngest player to score on their senior debut for the national team. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Canada can earn their second medal at the CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday when they take on the USA at SoFi Stadium in California. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly wrote a new page of Three Lions history with his opening goal in Friday's World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City Women will continue their Women's Super League survival bid when they face Brighton & Hove Albion Women in Sunday's clash at the King Power Stadium. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Jude Bellingham has moved ahead of Wayne Rooney in the England record books by earning his latest cap against Albania. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Iceland and Kosovo will complete their UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoff tie on Sunday, when they meet at the Estadio Nueva Condomina in Spain. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven could reportedly resume training with the Red Devils shortly after the international break, with the issue that he suffered against Leicester City last weekend not believed to be serious. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pau Cubarsi has returned to Barcelona after suffering an ankle injury in Spain's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg against Netherlands on Thursday night. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will welcome Tottenham Hotspur Women to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League clash. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England boss Thomas Tuchel has named his first starting lineup as Three Lions boss for Friday's World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Riccardo Calafiori has reportedly given Arsenal a major boost with his knee injury not claimed to be serious. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson is reportedly set to hold 'crunch talks' with the Reds hierarchy over his future at the end of the season. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Follow all the action as Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first game as England manager against Albania, live on talkSPORT. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Follow all the action as Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first game as England manager against Albania, live on talkSPORT. 21 March 2025 talksport.com England made a winning start to life under Thomas Tuchel on Friday night as they beat Albania 2-0 at Wembley. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea's first opponents at this summer's Club World Cup have been expelled from the competition, FIFA has announced. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly learned how long Riccardo Calafiori will be out for with a knee injury following the defender's withdrawal from the Italy squad. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has been told that Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma has the quality to play for Manchester United. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have confirmed that Alisson Becker has pulled out of the Brazil squad after the goalkeeper suffered a worrying injury scare against Colombia. 21 March 2025 talksport.com There were huge smiles at Wembley commentary with Stuart Pearce returning to action after his heart scare. 21 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition begins next week as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Thomas Tuchel made the right decision not to call up Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, but the 18-year-old is still a safe bet for the 2026 World Cup squad, expert Charles Watts believes. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he and Georgina Rodriguez are not currently married despite huge speculation. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly come forward with a 'super offer' to sign Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres in the summer transfer window. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League giants Manchester City will reportedly attempt to sign Swedish starlet Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Lee Carsley is back in his role as England Under-21 head coach and his strong Young Lions squad take on France tonight.