Paul Merson believes that Chelsea can go on a winning run this season which will bring them into the Premier League top four conversation. Graham Potter's side currently sit tenth, needing to make up a ten-point gap to the Champions League places with just under half of the 2022/23 season left to play.
After a disappointing start to their January run of fixtures, the Blues have picked up four points from their last two games with a win over Crystal Palace and a hard-fought point against Liverpool at Anfield. Just last season the two teams clashed in two domestic cup finals, with Liverpool winning both, however this campaign they are struggling to hit similar form.
Due to these domestic struggles, Todd Boehly has sanctioned the arrival of six new signings with Noni Madueke as the latest through the door following Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana.
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Due to their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City, Potter is set for a free weekend and thus an extended period of time with his Chelsea squad. Based on his track record at Brighton, Paul Merson believes that Chelsea will be fine this season and tips them to possibly make a late burst into the top four depending on one key result.
"I don't worry about Chelsea. I think they'll be just right," Merson said on Sky Sports. "If you look at Graham Potter’s career at Brighton, I thought they were one of the best teams in the league from box to box. When he left there, they started scoring goals, so that might worry you a little bit. But I think he needs time and a pre-season, to get his players in and get them playing the way he wants to play.
"I think Chelsea will go on a little bit of a run. He’s got to start somewhere. It’s been a bit of a nightmare situation, but they’ve brought in a lot of young players and the future does look bright.
"I don’t think it’s fair to bring in someone to a club like that and not give him time to have a pre-season. If he’s where he is now this time next season, then there’s alarm bells.
"They’re 10 points behind Newcastle, who are the team I think they’ve got to chase down. I think Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal will be in the top four. If you beat Newcastle at home then it’s seven points. There’s a chance if they can get on a run. There’s still a lot of games - people forget we had a World Cup. We’re only on halfway now."
Three of the six January signings have already made significant impacts. Felix looked extremely bright on his debut against Fulham before he was sent off, and Mudryk subsequently offered a similar cameo causing Liverpool a number of problems in the games final stages last weekend.
"Mykhailo Mudryk looks like an outstanding buy. He looked very lively and pacey [against Liverpool]. Jurgen Klopp brought James Milner off in no time against him on Saturday. Joao Felix will come back, so you've got him and Kai Havertz with Mudryk. It looks lively."
At the opposite end of the pitch, the signing of Badiashile has proven to be the most valuable thus far, with the Frenchman forming a superb partnership with Thiago Silva.
He added: "They look solid at the back, too, with two clean sheets on the trot. Benoit Badiashile's looked outstanding - and he’s playing with one of the greatest of all time with Thiago Silva.
"He’s still one of the best now and he’s 38. Even all of his headers are knocked down to people. I can’t talk highly enough of him. If we talk about Virgil van Dijk as a Rolls Royce, then Silva’s a vintage Rolls Royce."
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