Alarming Man City prediction for final 2024/25 table shows tough times lie ahead

Michael Owen has predicted Manchester City will end up finishing a mind-blowing fourth in the Premier League this season.

The club is currently shrouded in uncertainty regarding the future of manager Pep Guardiola, whose contract at the Etihad is set to expire at the end of the campaign. Reports have hinted the Catalan might extend his tenure beyond a ninth season in Manchester, but Guardiola admitted in May that he's "closer to leaving than staying".

Additionally, the club has 115 charges of alleged financial breaches hanging over its head, which are expected to be the focus of a highly anticipated hearing later this year. Owen believes this combination could result in City's worst table finish since before Guardiola took over in 2016.

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"I had a thought about Newcastle, but Aston Villa are solid and seem to be still improving," he told Casino Hawks (via The Mirror). "In terms of the order, my thinking is if City aren't going to win it, they could actually drop away a bit.

"It's almost as if City are not gonna be really in the race after 10 games, then their priority could shift elsewhere - I think there could be a big surprise this season. I'm going to go for Arsenal first, Liverpool second, Aston Villa third and Manchester City fourth.

"I think City will either win it or they'll drop away a few places and probably miraculously win the last 10 games to reach Champions League football next season or something strange like that."

The ex-England striker - who was part of and Manchester United's Premier League title-winning squad in 2011 - did find some