'It could be anybody' - TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole says Brighton, Aston Villa among eight UCL candidates

Almost half of the teams in the Premier League could qualify for the Champions League next season, according to TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole.

Cole, speaking during TNT's coverage of Aston Villa's 6-1 hammering of Brighton at Villa Park, says he believes that as many as eight teams are good enough to secure a place at Europe's top table for next season.

He said of Villa after the game: "I think they can compete for a Champions League place. I don't say that lightly."

Continuing, Cole explained: "We've seen Newcastle, we've seen Brighton, now this Villa team's going to push. We've seen Liverpool drop out of the Champions League. We've seen Chelsea in mid table. I think the Premier League right now is the strongest it's ever been."

To underline his point, Cole pointed to the strength in depth of Unai Emery's Aston Villa, and Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton.

He said: "Look at the amount of quality and international footballers on the pitch. They're two teams you wouldn't traditionally see going for the Champions League but I think both of these teams can."

Villa were knocked out of the League Cup in midweek, losing a tight match 2-1 to Everton, but rebounded with some sensational finishing against Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

Brighton boss De Zerbi made changes both in personnel and tactics at half-time and was rewarded with the first goal of the second half. Brighton were dominating but Emery responded with changes of his own to wrest back control. The quality off the pitch showing itself just as significant as the quality on it.

For Cole, these were two excellent sides with one having a bad day at the office.

Speaking about potential Champions League qualification, Cole insisted that both Villa and Brighton are in the running.

He said: "I think it's going to be so tight. The top eight. I think it could be anybody."

While both Villa and Brighton are continuing to evolve and impress, they both face a new challenge this season in the form of European football. Villa are playing in the Europa Conference League, their first European campaign since 2011, while Brighton are in their maiden European season in the Europa League.

More competitions means more games and the squads of Emery and De Zerbi respectively must adapt.

Cole saw the impact of Europe of fatigue already taking its toll on Brighton.

He said: "The concerning thing would be how easy Villa got in with one or two passes. They looked a little bit mentally fatigued."

Fellow TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch agreed.

He said: "Of course Brighton will have the possession but they couldn't handle being hit on the break ."

Cole observed that De Zerbi is a manager still refining his skills, and dealing with a competitive domestic calendar as well as European football for the first time in his career.

He said: "What he's trying to do is figure out the best way to deal with European football. He's gone from a very settled side and he feels he needs to change the personnel. I think he'll take from this game that he needs a little more physicality through the side."

Cole, himself a veteran of numerous deep European runs, gave him a word of advice.

He said: "Sometimes the simplest thing is, maybe make three changes rather than five changes. The squad will have to deal with that. Not many of his squad have played multiple games a week."

Questioned on whether De Zerbi's rotation at goalkeeper should be a talking point, Cole demurred.

He said: "I don't think it's such a big deal taking the goalkeeper out."

Villa are back in action at home again on Thursday evening when they host Zrinjski Mostar the Conference League, while Brighton face a daunting trip to Marseille in the Europa League.

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