Former Arsenal player and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has made his prediction for Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Blues welcome Jurgen Klopp’s side to Stamford Bridge and will be desperate for the three points to give their fans something to smile about after their terrible 2022/23 season.
Merson, however, is expecting the game to be a draw. In his column for Sportskeeda, he wrote: “This game is crucial for both teams, and neither team will want to lose.
“If I was a Chelsea fan, I’d take a draw here. Both teams will have a go, and a draw would be a good result for both Chelsea and Liverpool.”
Chelsea and Liverpool have already crossed paths this summer in the transfer window.
Both teams have gone after Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, but it looks like Liverpool are the club who will win the race for his signature.
According to BBC Sport, they have now agreed a £111m deal with the Seagulls to sign the 21-year-old.
Chelsea are underprepared for the Liverpool game
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had a really strong pre-season, beating the likes of Brighton and Fulham to claim the Premier League Summer Series trophy.
While they were only friendlies, Brighton and Fulham are obviously Premier League teams, so those two victories were still quite promising in a sense.
Nevertheless, you cannot help but feel that Chelsea are not ready for this Liverpool clash.
They are extremely light in midfield following the departures of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while they have just lost Christopher Nkunku to a serious injury.
The Frenchman is someone Pochettino would have turned to for this fixture given his excellent goal record at RB Leipzig.
Nkunku is a match-winner, so not having him available could hurt Chelsea. Considering that and the above, right now, the Stamford Bridge faithful would probably take a draw.
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