Merson: Chelsea don’t look amazing at the back

Maurizio Sarri
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Crystal Palace travel to Watford and Merson believes the visitors will win.

Merson told Sky Sports: “Watford have had a couple very good results, as they did last season before fizzling out.

“This is a tough one to predict, because Palace do have a bit about them. They sat 10 behind the ball against Liverpool and hoped Zaha would do something special. But I think they’ll win this game.

“They’ll have a raucous following at Vicarage Road and it should be a good at-mosphere.”

Merson also believes in an away win in the meeting between Newcastle and Chelsea.

He told Sky Sports: “I think Newcastle are struggling. Why did they let Kenedy take the penalty against Cardiff? He was having a nightmare. There’s a bit of a feeling around Newcastle at the moment, and I think Chelsea will take ad-vantage.

“Chelsea don’t look amazing at the back, Arsenal ripped them apart at times, but Newcastle don’t have what Arsenal have going forward. Maurizio Sarri said he wants Chelsea to be pressing at all times, and it’s a danger when they don’t, even for 20 minutes.

“I just can’t see Newcastle picking them off here. Away win.”

Merson’s predictions for the Premier League matches on Sunday:

Watford v Crystal Palace 1-2
Fulham v Burnley 1-0
Newcastle United v Chelsea 1-2