Chelsea are preparing for a massive game with the race for the top five hinging on their trip to Aston Villa, and Paul Merson has discussed Chelsea’s chances and Alejandro Garnacho.
As things stand, Chelsea sit in sixth place with 10 Premier League games to play. Two points from a possible nine has seen Liam Rosenior’s side slip two positions down the table in the last few weeks.
Chelsea set fire, according to Rosenior, to four points against Leeds and Burnley while the Blues were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday. All good performances at times, until Chelsea shot themselves in the foot.
Finish our XI to face Villa!
Set-piece vulnerability, discipline problems and the form of Robert Sanchez need to be taken into account by Rosenior ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Villa. Alejandro Garnacho could start against Villa.
Paul Merson discusses the top-five race and Chelsea’s Garnacho
On Sports Keeda, Merson has been discussing the race for the top five and he thinks both Man United and Liverpool have cemented their place in the top five. He thinks the other spot is for Villa or Chelsea.
If Chelsea can win here, it’s game on in the race for top five! If they lose, it’s the end of it for them. Nine points behind Aston Villa with nine games to go? I think it is just too many to make up,” Merson said.
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
“If Villa beat Chelsea, I think that will be enough for them to finish in the top five. Even if they get beat by Man United in their next league game, they would still be at least six points ahead with just eight left.
“I have a feeling Manchester United and Liverpool will finish inside the top five. Whoever loses this game, will have it difficult in my opinion,” Merson said, in his column with Sports Keeda ahead of the game.
Merson also believes that with Estevao injured for the match and Pedro Neto suspended, he thinks Rosenior will hand Alejandro Garnacho a rare start, with the £40m man likely to start on the left flank.
“Chelsea will have to trust Alejandro Garnacho in the absence of Pedro Neto. I don’t like playing Cole Palmer out wide because he’s more effective in the middle. Estevao is injured. Who else have they got?”
Paul Merson predicts result of Chelsea’s trip to Villa
This game is massive for Chelsea and for Rosenior. His aim when he replaced Enzo Maresca will have been to turn Chelsea into a Champions League side, and qualification is an absolute must for a club this big.
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As Merson says, and rightly so, losing this game will see Chelsea drop so far off the pace in the running for the top five. Indeed, Liverpool face Wolves and Man United go to Newcastle, quite easily two wins.
So Chelsea need to win this game to put the pressure back on the others sides currently sitting in the top five. Merson predicts a 2-1 win for Chelsea: “Villa are not playing well at the moment. I fancy Chelsea.”
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