Sky Sports Pundit Offers His Predicted Score For Liverpool & Chelsea Games

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has made his predictions ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea’s festive fixtures against Stoke and Bournemouth.

Chelsea head in to the Christmas games sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League table and well on course to reclaiming the title after a sensational run of form in recent months.

Last weekend’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace made it a staggering eleven consecutive victories for Antonio Conte’s side and another win on Monday would cement their position at the top of the division.

The Blues will have to make do without two key players as N’Golo Kante and Diego Costa will serve one-match bans but Merson believes they’ll still have just enough to see-off an inconsistent Bournemouth side at the Bridge.

Writing in his column for Sky Sports, Merson said:

Chelsea v Bournemouth – Boxing Day, 3pm

If there were two players Chelsea would least like to play without, it would be Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante. That’s what they’re faced with against Bournemouth, but I still think they will be too strong. You’re never too sure about Bournemouth: one minute they’re getting slaughtered by Southampton at home and then before that they beat Liverpool and Leicester. Costa and Kante will be missed but Chelsea have picked up the habit of winning games.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0

Another win for Chelsea would really put the pressure on second-placed Liverpool as it would open up a nine point advantage ahead of their clash with Stoke City at Anfield on December 27th.

The Reds should be in buoyant mood after securing a narrow 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night with Sadio Mane netting a late winner for the visitors.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s men can’t afford any slip-ups against Stoke if they want to be title contenders, especially if Chelsea do beat Bournemouth the previous day.

The Potters have been inconsistent this season and threw away two points after blowing a 2-0 lead at home to 10-man Leicester City last weekend to leave them sitting 11th in the table.

Merson does think that Mark Hughes’ side will give Liverpool a good game at Anfield next week but feels the Merseysiders will have just enough to secure all three points on home soil.

Merson continued in his Sky Sports column:

Liverpool v Stoke – Dec 27, 5.15pm

I like Stoke, they’re a decent team and they probably should have got something from the game at Arsenal last week, they were bang unlucky. They threw three points away against Leicester but I suspect them to give Liverpool a good game. Liverpool have bounced back from their draw to West Ham well though, they should be just too strong for the Potters.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

What do you think? Will Chelsea and Liverpool both win? Or will one slip-up?