‘I’ll go as far as to say’: Paul Merson makes prediction about the match between Chelsea and Liverpool

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Paul Merson has tipped Chelsea to miss out on Champions League football next season if they fail to beat Liverpool tomorrow.

Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson predicted grave European consequences for losing side at Anfield on Saturday.

Graham Potter and Jurgen Klopp will pit their managerial minds against each other on Merseyside in just over 24 hours’ time, with potentially huge implications riding on the result.

Neither Chelsea nor Liverpool have been at the level expected of them this year, and probably see this showdown as a possible turning point.

The Reds and the Blues are parallel on points heading into the Premier League fixture, with only goal difference separating the two aged rivals.

Klopp’s men have a game in advance over their soon-to-be guests, who will aim to build upon the crucial 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend.

But Potter cannot afford to solely rely on this rare win as he takes his team to Liverpool.

Chelsea have to be at their best to secure even a draw at the home of the reigning FA Cup champions.

This is even despite Klopp’s group performing below-par for most of the term, much like the squad hailing from Stamford Bridge, which increases the intrigue surrounding this match-up.

Chelsea versus Liverpool

A triumph for either camp could propel them up the table and closer to their ultimate goal, breaking back into the top four-fold.

On the opposite face of the coin, a loss might signal the end of their Champions League dreams.

“Ninth place against tenth place – is this a big game? I’ll go as far as to say that whoever loses this match is completely out of the Premier League top-four race,” suggested Merson.

“This is a massive game. The team that wins this game could go on a run and really push for a place in the top four.”

Chelsea’s recent record against Liverpool will not fill Potter with much confidence.

They have won just twice in 12 meetings with Klopp’s army, the most recent the 1-0 conquest at Anfield under Thomas Tuchel in March 2021.

But history and form will go out of the window, as only those in the present able to affect the score line.