Paul Merson tips Maurizio Sarri to drop Eden Hazard for Liverpool clash
Paul Merson is tipping Maurizio Sarri to hand Liverpool a major Premier League title boost by benching Eden Hazard in Chelseas clash with the Reds on Sunday.
Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield knowing they cannot afford to drop points, as Manchester City have a game in hand in the battle to win the title.
City are two points behind Liverpool going into the weekend and on paper have a much easier game away at Crystal Palace.
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Merson is backing Liverpool to beat Chelsea and suggested Sarri could prioritise the Europa League, despite starting Hazard on the bench against Slavia Prague on Thursday night.
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Im not sure if Eden Hazards going to play as the Europa League is a massive competition for Chelsea, Merson told Sky Sports.
For the manager, winning that competition is bigger for him than getting into the top four – for a manager whos never won anything before.
This is a big opportunity for Sarri so its a question of what team gets set up for Chelsea.
If Chelsea play their full team, and dont worry about next Thursday, this will be game on – no question about that – but Im just going to go for Liverpool.
Liverpool are going to get nervous. Theyve not won the league in 29 years, and everyone in the city is talking about it, so theres bound to be nerves.
If they can get this game out of the way, Man City will have to do it the hard way.
City can go top for a few hours on Sunday as Liverpool play later in the day and Merson believes Pep Guardiolas side have looked vulnerable in recent weeks.
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