“It’s going to be a tough one”: Paul Merson’s score prediction for upcoming Chelsea vs Manchester City has gone viral and keeps everyone talking
Chelsea are now just a few days away from the start of their Premier League season, which begins at home to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Paul Merson has just delivered his first set of predictions for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign in England’s top division.
For Chelsea, it’s yet another new season when they begin it with a different person in the manager’s dugout.
The responsibility falls on Enzo Maresca this time around to pick up where Mauricio Pochettino left off. It was a mediocre sixth-placed finish in the league for the Blues last season, but they won five straight matches at the end to show real signs of progression with the young squad.
Speaking during pre-season via Football.London, Maresca explained Chelsea high line is a problem when defending. For certain, they don’t want to give Man City’s superstar forward Erling Haaland space in behind at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Paul Merson predicts Chelsea vs Manchester City
Merson thinks that Chelsea may be able to sneak a draw at home to Man City because the opening fixture is a good time to play them.
Merson told Sportskeeda: “This is a massive football match. Chelsea are playing against their benchmark in the Premier League, and this is a good time to play against Manchester City. You’d want to play against them at the start of the season, before all their players are at their best.
“Chelsea haven’t had the best of preseason, and their manager will need to find his best team quickly. With 20 games gone last season, Pochettino hadn’t found his best team, and that was his downfall. Chelsea have a problem of plenty – they’ll need to find their best eleven and hope that players like Palmer and James stay fit this season…
“This is a good time to play Man City, and this was a brilliant game last season. Chelsea could hold City to a draw this weekend. Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City.”
Chelsea vs Manchester City head to head
Here is a look at the last six competitive meetings between Chelsea and City, which excludes this month’s pre-season friendly in the United States that the Manchester club won 4-2.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea (FA Cup) – April 2024
Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League) – February 2024
Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City (Premier League) – November 2023
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League) – May 2023
Manchester City 4-0 Chelsea (FA Cup) – January 2023
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League) – January 2023
As seen above, Chelsea have found it difficult against Pep Guardiola’s winning machine in recent times. They should at least take comfort from the fact that they recorded draws in both league meetings with them last season.
