Paul Merson rates Chelsea’s Premier League title chances and makes Fulham prediction

Paul Merson believes Chelsea can still win the Premier League this season despite their recent wobble and says Frank Lampard deserves more time to turn things around.

The Blues went top of the table in early December after beating Leeds United – but have since lost four games to slip to ninth.

Chelsea are six points behind fourth-placed Leicester City and ten points adrift of leaders Manchester United ahead of Saturday’s trip to west London rivals Fulham.

Merson reckons Lampard could still lead the club to a domestic title, however, and says he deserves to be backed by the Chelsea board.

‘The way the season is going, if you can win three games on the trot, you’re back in the title race,’ Merson told Sky Sports.

‘Teams are losing games and dropping points left, right and centre. If you put a run of five wins together, you’re probably top of the league. That wasn’t the case last year.

‘If this was Chelsea’s points tally last season or the season before, I’d say Chelsea are in trouble. But not this season. They’re still in it, big time.

‘That’s why I still don’t think Chelsea are out of it. Whoever you are, put five wins together and you’re in it.’

Merson added: ‘If Chelsea don’t beat Fulham, should they sack Frank Lampard? It depends what Chelsea want this year.

‘It’s alright saying: “Let’s get rid of Frank” but who comes in? Do they go back in for Rafa Benitez? If you’re going to bring in Andriy Shevchenko, what’s the difference?

‘It’s the same as Lampard, he hasn’t managed world-class players, and will need time.

‘It’s not like you can bring in a Carlo Ancelotti for a quick fix. Sooner or later, there has to be a plan at Chelsea.

‘You can’t just spend £200m and think you’re going to win the league, it doesn’t work like that.

‘Lampard did a great job last year, and it’s the first time he has worked with world-class players. Give him a chance.

‘A plan is to be realistic about where they expect to come this season: I would have probably said the plan was to stay in the top four – because they already made the top four not spending £200m last season – and probably be in the title race.’

On Saturday, Chelsea face a Fulham team who have won just two league matches this season to sit 18th in the Premier League.

Merson said: ‘Chelsea have all the advantage on Saturday now because of Fulham having to play midweek. It isn’t kind to Fulham really because their team may have been different in the FA Cup against QPR.

‘It’s a massive football match, and it’s a big local derby. But Chelsea expect to beat Fulham, and should beat Fulham because they have better players. I expect them to win this game.’

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