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Former Arsenal player, Paul Merson, has shared his concerns about how Chelsea will perform in the 2024-25 Premier League season.

Merson also voiced his disappointment with Chelsea’s FA Cup exit last weekend, where they failed to hold onto a 1-0 lead, eventually losing 2-1 to Brighton.

Chelsea will return to Premier League action this weekend at Stamford Bridge, and Merson believes they might struggle against their opponents without their injured striker, Nicolas Jackson.

As a result, Christopher Nkunku is expected to lead the attack, but Merson thinks this formation might not be beneficial for Cole Palmer, who he feels thrives when playing alongside Jackson.

“I was disappointed with Chelsea last weekend. They were 1-0 up against Brighton in the FA Cup and should have won that game. Instead, we saw them crumble and get knocked out in the fourth round!” he said in the preview of W25 matches as quoted by Metro.

Merson also expressed concern that Jackson’s absence could jeopardize Chelsea’s chances of securing a top-four finish this season.

“Nicolas Jackson is out injured, and he will be a massive miss for them. Even though some fans are unhappy with him and have been demanding the club to sign a new striker, they will now realise how much he will be missed.

“I think him being injured will definitely affect Cole Palmer. The way Jackson runs off the ball actually helps Palmer become a better, more impactful player.

“I worry for Chelsea in the race for the top four now that Jackson is injured. I’ve always said that Christopher Nkunku is more of a No. 10, and playing him at centre-forward isn’t the ideal solution.”

Meanwhile, Brighton will be under little pressure and will look to play their own game.

“I’d be shocked if Chelsea win this game. I’m actually going for a repeat of what happened in the FA Cup,” Merson added.

Chelsea are currently in fourth place in the league standings with 43 points. Any slip-ups could see them overtaken by Manchester City, who will be aiming to beat Newcastle United in one of this weekend’s fixtures.

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