Paul Merson has revealed his prediction for the crucial Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United and urged Michael Carrick to bench striker Benjamin Sesko.
Chelsea welcome Man United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday night hoping to spice up their Champions League hopes following a difficult run.
Liam Rosenior’s side have won just one among their last six games in all competitions, slipping to sixth within the Premier League and crashing out of the Champions League.
Manchester United, in contrast, have climbed to 3rd within the table since Michael Carrick was appointed caretaker manager in replace of Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils have dropped points in each of their last two games, nevertheless, drawing 2-2 at Bournemouth before the international break before suffering a shock defeat at home to Leeds United on Monday night.
Merson believes United’s winless run to proceed at Stamford Bridge, backing Chelsea to clinch an important 2-1 win to spice up their hopes of Champions League qualification.
The Arsenal legend expects Enzo Fernandez to come back back into the Chelsea team following his recent absence but says Sesko ought to be dropped and allowed to ‘make an impact from the bench’ as he has does effectively within the second-half of the season.
‘Chelsea were atrocious of the very best level within the second half against Manchester City,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.
‘Luckily for them, they now face Manchester United, who were also terrible within the loss to Leeds!
‘It is a must-not-lose game for United and a must-win game for Chelsea. After this, Chelsea face Brighton away, Nottingham Forest at home, Liverpool away, Spurs at home and Sunderland away.
‘In the event that they lose this game, I don’t see them playing Champions League football next season.
‘So long as Manchester United avoid defeat, they’re for Champions League qualification because Chelsea will play Liverpool.
‘I could be shocked if Enzo Fernandez is just not back within the line-up for this game.
‘I still can’t get my head across the incontrovertible fact that Chelsea banned him for 2 matches! They were crying out for somebody like him to get on the ball and pass to interrupt lines in the course of the defeat to City.
‘Manchester United were poor against Leeds and have a couple of injuries to take care of.
‘I don’t know why Bryan Mbeumo didn’t start that game though. And Casemiro is nowhere near the identical player without Kobbie Mainoo next to him!
‘I might probably leave Benjamin Sesko out of the line-up against Chelsea. He’s someone who they’ll bring on to make an impact off the bench.
‘The opposite day against Leeds, they’d nobody who could do this in its place because Sesko was within the starting XI.
‘Chelsea might be ninth within the league by the tip of the week, in the event that they don’t win this game. But I actually think they’ll trouble United. I’m backing Chelsea to get a 2-1 win.’
Manchester United beat ten-man Chelsea 2-1 the last time these two sides met back in September, profiting from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s early red card.
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