Paul Merson has predicted that Liverpool will beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday in the huge Premier League clash.
Writing in his regular column on Sky Sports, Merson said that he could see Sarri dropping Eden Hazard with one eye on the Europa League second-leg next week.
“I’m not sure if Eden Hazard’s going to play as the Europa League is a massive competition for Chelsea. For the manager, winning that competition is bigger for him than getting into the top four – for a manager who’s never won anything before.
“If Chelsea play their full team, and don’t worry about next Thursday, this will be game on – no question about that – but I’m just going to go for Liverpool.”
Merson added that if Liverpool do beat Chelsea, Man City will “have to do it the hard way”.
OPINION
This is the big one for Liverpool. Tottenham and Chelsea were the toughest games they had left – they got past Tottenham, just, and a win against Chelsea would surely make them favourites to win the Premier League. The rest of their games are winnable and Man City still have to go to Tottenham and Man United. Sarri said that Hazard was tired ahead of the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday and that he would have to make changes for the game. Given that, we could see him dropping him from this game leaving him fully fit and rested for Liverpool. Winning the Europa would be huge for Chelsea but the easiest way into the Champions League is via the top-four and we think that’s what Sarri will prioritise. That means Liverpool will have to do it the hard way but the Anfield noise can push them to the win and the three points.