CHELSEA’s over-reliance on Eden Hazard is one of three reasons why it would be a shock if they won the Premier League.
That is the view of Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
Chelsea are joint top of the Premier League with Manchester City and Liverpool after winning six of their opening eight league games.
And on Saturday, they host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge as club football resumes after an international break.
Chelsea’s season has been spearheaded by arguably the best player in Europe – Hazard.
Hazard has scored seven goals in eight games for Chelsea but Merson feels they are too reliant on the Belgian.
“I think it would be a shock if Chelsea won the league,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s because they are so reliant on Eden Hazard.”
Merson then claimed Chelsea defence is not good enough despite conceding just five goals so far.
“To do it week-in, week-out, against the big teams in the big games, I think they’ll get found out at the back,” he said.
“They’ve not had too many big games, but Arsenal could have put seven past them at Stamford Bridge, and that’s being kind.”
Up front, apart from Hazard, Chelsea’s other attackers have struggled to convince.
Olivier Giroud has not scored a goal since May while Alvaro Morata has scored just three times this season.
And Merson feels Giroud and Morata will not score enough to boost their challenge.
“They were good chances they could have put away, too,” Merson added.
“Giroud and Morata aren’t going to score the goals to put them out of sight in games.
“At the start of the season, we’d have said if Chelsea can get in the top four, it’s a good season, and I think that’s still the case.”
Source:www.express.co.uk