Paul Merson has boldly claimed that Chelsea are genuine contenders for the Premier League title this season, grouping them alongside Arsenal and Liverpool.
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Arsenal closed the gap on Chelsea to just one point with a commanding 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea could temporarily top the table if they defeat Everton on Sunday, though a Liverpool win over Tottenham would see Chelsea back in second place by day’s end.
Despite their solid position, data from Opta gives Chelsea a mere 5.8% chance of clinching the title. In contrast, Liverpool leads the prediction with an 80.2% likelihood, followed by Arsenal at 13.2%.
Merson voiced his disagreement with these stats during an appearance on Sky Sports:
“That 5.8% needs to be bigger, it’s ridiculous. Arsenal need consistency, as Mikel Arteta said.
They’ve drawn their last two games—matches they should’ve won. Chelsea, however, are very much in this race. They’ve got no distractions, no European football to contend with, and no Carabao Cup ties in January or February. They are 100% focused on the league.”
He emphasized Chelsea’s potential, pointing out their depth and freedom from additional fixtures, saying, “Chelsea are more than 5.8%. Arsenal at 13% makes sense because they haven’t been in this situation much either.”
On the other hand, Jamie Redknapp highlighted Liverpool’s advantage, citing their superior squad depth.
“Liverpool are in incredible form, and they’ve managed this despite injuries,” said Redknapp.
“Their bench is stacked with players who can make an impact. Arsenal still lack that. They need to strengthen in January, especially up front, to compete fully.”
He added that Arsenal’s reliance on players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus could expose them if injuries strike.
Arsenal’s squad depth in attacking positions, according to Redknapp, remains a critical weakness that could hinder their title push.
