Paul Merson has hailed Eden Hazard as “up there with the best in the world” and claimed he will prove too hot to handle for West Ham this weekend.
The pundit and Arsenal legend told Sky Sports the Chelsea attacker is the obvious dangerman for the Hammers and predicted a 3-1 victory for the visitors at the London Stadium.
West Ham got their season up and running with a win at Everton last weekend, while Chelsea are top of the table after winning all five of their Premier League fixtures.
“I fancied West Ham last week, I couldn’t see them getting beat at Everton,” Merson told Sky Sports. “I thought they would be better away from home this season and would struggle at home. But this game looks after itself, Chelsea at home, the fans will be right behind them.
“But I just don’t think they can live with Eden Hazard. West Ham will have their spells in the game but it won’t be enough. Hazard is up there with the best in the world at the moment.”
OPINION
With five goals from Chelsea’s opening five matches, including a hat-trick in their 4-1 win against Cardiff City last weekend, Hazard has started the season on fire. The brilliant Belgian has been mesmeric in the last three matches and any hopes West Ham might have had that he would be fatigued after Chelsea’ Europa League to Greece tonight has been destroyed by manager Maurizio Sarri leaving him behind in London to have a rest. That is one benefit the Londoners will have from not competing in this season’s Champions League. Had Chelsea a midweek clash in Europe’s premier competition, there is no chance Hazard would have been left at home. West Ham will go into Sunday’s match in confident mood after their impressive win at previously unbeaten Everton last weekend. They don’t have a player of Hazard’s world class, but they have a few dangermen of their own, most notably Marko Arnautovic, but also Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko.