Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has warned Manchester City they’ll face problems from Chelsea when the two sides face each other after the international break.
The Blues head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, November 23, when they’ll be looking to pull away from Pep Guardiola’s side in the race for the Premier League title.
Frank Lampard’s men sit a point above their next opponents following City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, which saw the Reds go eight points clear at the top of the table.
Chelsea will be looking to put a further dent in City’s title hopes, and continue their own fine form in the process, having won each of their last six league games.
And former Arsenal midfielder Merson believes the Blues have the firepower to inflict more pain on City’s beleaguered defence.
“You have to remember that City have Chelsea at home next who are good going forward and if you are talking about a team who are going to give you problems at the back with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic,” Merson said in his Sky Sports column.
“This is going to be a problem game and if they do not win that game and Liverpool win…
“They have to get through them games next (Newcastle (a), Burnley (a), Man Utd (h), Arsenal (a), Leicester (h) and Wolves (a)) before they can be title contenders again.
“That is not a good run, but if they win all them and are still in the title race come Christmas, then I will go fair enough.”
On the title race, Merson added: “Liverpool have lost one game in the last 51 and they have played Man City three times in that time, so I just do not see them losing four or five games 'till the end of the season.
“That is what they would have to lose as City would not be able to afford to lose any games if they only lost three.
“So for me, I think it is Liverpool's to throw away - if they do not win it this year, I cannot tell you when they will win it again.
“I do not see City catching them, not with their defensive problems at the moment. They are just nowhere near good enough defensively.
“And I just think Liverpool are too good and I just do not see them getting beaten by any of the lesser teams. And if they do, they have to score two or three goals, which is not going to happen.”
