Currently, the teams are just one place apart in the league standings, both vying for a crucial top-four spot.
Although a top-five finish might also secure Champions League football this season, a top-four finish guarantees it. ..Continue Reading
Merson is highly confident that Chelsea will triumph over Manchester City and believes Cole Palmer will cause significant problems for the champions at the Etihad.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side, after a strong start to the Premier League season, have experienced a significant dip in form, winning only one of their last six matches.
In contrast, City has somewhat recovered from a difficult period and remain undefeated in their last five league games. A victory in this weekend’s crucial match would allow Pep Guardiola’s team to overtake fourth-placed Chelsea in the standings.
However, City’s confidence may have taken a hit after their recent Champions League collapse, where Paris Saint-Germain came back from two goals down to win 4-2.
‘I don’t think City have been great so it doesn’t shock me at all, this result,’ ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Merson told Sky Sports News the morning after the Paris spectacle.
‘When PSG showed high energy, like Brentford did, they went through them like a knife through butter.
‘This is the problem they have at the moment, this team is changing and they need certain players in. It’s hard because we’re talking about world-class players but some of them are coming towards the end.
‘They haven’t got that energy anymore and teams with that high energy and legs in the team are leaving them behind.’
Despite Man City’s mini-resurgence in the Premier League, Merson does not see Guardiola’s team battling their way back into the title race.
‘No, I don’t see them back in the title race. I think they will fight for top four and that’s it now,’ he added.
‘They’ve got Chelsea and Arsenal coming up, with Club Brugge in between, I just don’t see how they can.
‘I think Chelsea will beat them this weekend, I really do. I think with Chelsea’s energy and Cole Palmer getting in the little pockets, I think they’ll cause massive problems, massive problems.’
Merson is concerned about how Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic will fare against Palmer, who will be eager to make a statement on his former home turf.
‘If you watch the videos of Manchester City, this is not the Manchester City of old,’ he went on.
‘They don’t go and get the ball back and if they do, they do it for five or ten minutes, they can’t do it for long periods of time anymore.
‘Cole Palmer will get into pockets and I just don’t know how Silva and Kovacic can live with Cole Palmer.
‘You might say it the other way around but [Moises] Caicedo can do a job with [Kevin] De Bruyne, 100 per cent.
‘I see Chelsea causing them massive problems, [Pedro] Neto playing against [Matheus] Nunes as well down Chelsea’s left, I see him running him absolutely ragged.
‘I would be shocked if Chelsea lost this game, I really would be shocked if Chelsea lost this game.’
