Paul Merson expressed his belief that it would be a shock if Tottenham defeated Chelsea on Monday Night Football. Tottenham is currently unbeaten in the Premier League and tops the table, whereas Chelsea has had a disappointing start to the season, sitting 11th in the table after winning only three of their first 10 matches.
Pochettino admits Chelsea need to avoid risks with Reece James fitness.
Despite the contrasting form of both teams, Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, believes Chelsea will achieve a positive result in north London. He emphasized that Chelsea has performed well against teams that attack them, citing their better performances against Liverpool and Arsenal. He considers Tottenham’s style to be “perfect” for Chelsea, anticipating that Spurs will go on the offensive, which would suit Chelsea’s playing style.
Merson expects Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, and Cole Palmer to pose a threat to Tottenham’s defense. He suggests that Chelsea can approach the game with confidence and expressed doubt that Chelsea would lose to Spurs.
Tottenham is experiencing an unusual situation, as it is expected to win against Chelsea, which hasn’t been the case in recent matchups between the two teams. Merson pointed out that the pressure is on Tottenham due to its current league position.
Merson praised Tottenham’s performance and acknowledged that they’ve had a good run of games. However, he stressed the importance of handling the expectation of winning and how it changes the dynamics of a match.
He also discussed James Maddison and his need to consistently perform in big games. While praising Maddison’s abilities, he believes that the ability to consistently deliver in important matches is the question mark hanging over him.
Chelsea predicted starting lineup vs Tottenham as Pochettino makes Nicolas Jackson decision
Merson expressed his admiration for Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, and the playing style he has implemented. He credited Postecoglou’s success at Celtic and expected him to do well at Spurs. While recognizing that Spurs are playing well and have a 10-game unbeaten run, he also acknowledged the upcoming big tests, starting with the match against Chelsea.
