Paul Merson has offered some insight into what fans can expect when Chelsea face Crystal Palace on Monday.

Despite their troubles this season, the Blues proved they can play incredible football on Wednesday when they turned up and beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the FA Cup. And Merson has now said he expects another great performance from Chelsea this time, especially with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise set to miss the away tie.

“Chelsea are a really young side – the average age of the starting XI that beat Aston Villa in the cup was 23! This is what you’re going to get from a bunch of young guns – inconsistency is guaranteed,” he told Sportskeeda.

“They got absolutely slaughtered by Liverpool and Wolves but a week later, they played arguably their best football under Mauricio Pochettino in the FA Cup win against Villa,” Merson told Sportskeeda.

“In the league, you need to be consistent over 38 games, which is why Chelsea have struggled this season. However, in the domestic cups, you just need to be a better team on the day, so I think Chelsea will go far in the FA Cup.

“They are already in the Carabao Cup final, indicating that they are very much a cup team, like Arsenal was in 1993 when I was part of the squad.

“Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are set to miss out for Palace, so I see nothing but a Chelsea win.

“Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea.”