Paul Merson has cast doubt on Chelsea’s Premier League title ambitions following a dramatic Boxing Day filled with high-stakes action.
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The Blues suffered a crushing 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Stamford Bridge, with Rodrigo Muniz scoring a stoppage-time winner in the 95th minute.
Despite the loss, Chelsea remain second in the table, but Arsenal can leapfrog them with a win over Ipswich on Friday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool maintained their position at the top of the league with a commanding 3-1 victory over Leicester City, taking their points tally to 42.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s performance, Merson told Sky Sports he believes the club has faltered under the pressure of being in the title conversation. “Chelsea kept sitting back against Fulham,” he said. “Since going second, I don’t know if the nerves have hit them. They looked tight against Everton as well.
“It raises expectations. A few weeks ago, we were talking about Chelsea in the title race, but now it’s about getting top four. They’ve got too many good players to play like this. For me, they’re not a counter-attacking team and looked nervous.”
Manchester City, the dominant force in English football with six titles in the last seven seasons, also dropped points on Boxing Day with a 1-1 draw against Everton at the Etihad. Their inconsistent form has left many questioning their ability to reclaim the top spot.
Liverpool, the only team to break City’s stranglehold on the league in recent years, are being tipped as favorites to win the title again under new head coach Arne Slot.
Former right-back Glen Johnson is among the pundits backing the Reds, predicting a strong finish for Liverpool while reshuffling expectations for other clubs.
“Arsenal have been incredibly consistent, so I think they’ll finish second, with Chelsea third,” Johnson told Betfred. “Liverpool will win the league, and Manchester City will surprisingly end up fourth. It sounds crazy, but that’s how I see it right now.”
As the Premier League heats up, Boxing Day’s results have reshaped the title race. Chelsea’s missteps, Liverpool’s dominance, and City’s stumbles ensure that the battle for the top spot will remain unpredictable heading into the new year.
