As Chelsea head to the City Ground, Paul Merson has shared his verdict ahead of their clash against Nottingham Forest. After Liverpool lost at Stamford Bridge, his message to the Blues is clear: They will need to beat Forest, or the story starts over.
Chelsea shocked Liverpool 2-1 on October 4 with a stoppage-time goal from Estevao. This win brought Maresca’s team back into the title race. Now Nottingham Forest is coming. They haven’t won a game in a while and are at the bottom of the table, where the pressure is rising.
Paul Merson said:
“Chelsea are crying out for consistency. It was a great win over Liverpool but they must back it up with another three points in this game. There’s no point in beating the reigning champions and then failing to win against a struggling Forest.”
Results like the win over Liverpool only matter when they are followed by wins that are, more or less, expected. Enzo Maresca is facing many problems with his team selection and the pressure that comes with being a big club expected to turn things around.
Even worse, Maresca is banned from the touchline. After his wild celebration against Liverpool, he was shown a second yellow card. However, his tactical plan has made the Blues show more confidence, and they will need to take that into the Forest clash.
Nottingham Forest boss under fire ahead of Chelsea clash
Postecoglou, on the other hand, is asking for patience as he tries to get his ideas across during a seven-game winless streak. A restless crowd and owner scrutiny add tension that could make it more problematic for the Australian manager.
Before Chelsea comes to the City Ground, Nottingham Forest is having a hard time with their form. The home team is looking for stability and their first win under Ange Postecoglou, who has led them to the drop zone.
With just five points, Forest is in 17th place. They lost 2-0 at Newcastle in their last Premier League game and 3-2 against Midtjylland in Europe. Chelsea comes in with momentum after beating Liverpool 2-1 late in the game and will try to turn that into a streak.
Postecoglou has been defiant in his tone:
“If you let the story play out, I’ll tell you how it finishes. Some will look at the weeds, I look at what’s growing.”