Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested that Aston Villa could replicate Newcastle United’s feat from the previous season by securing a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Carragher made this observation following Villa’s 4-1 victory over West Ham.

In the match, goals from Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins, and Leon Bailey helped Unai Emery’s team secure their 11th consecutive home win.

With this victory, Villa has moved up to fifth place in the Premier League standings after nine games, just two points behind league leaders Manchester City.

The strong start to the season has sparked discussions about Villa’s potential to finish in the top four, ahead of teams like Chelsea and Manchester United.

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Carragher drew a comparison to Newcastle’s unexpected qualification for the Champions League last season, despite widespread skepticism throughout the campaign.

Carragher did acknowledge a potential challenge for Villa in their quest for a top-four finish.

Unlike Newcastle’s situation last season, Villa also has to contend with European football due to their participation in the Europa Conference League.

Carragher anticipates that Villa may perform well in this competition, given their manager’s strong track record in European competitions.

However, this will likely result in a congested fixture schedule with Thursday-Sunday matches after the Christmas period, which could pose a unique challenge for Villa’s top-four aspirations, according to Carragher’s analysis during an interview with Sky Sports.