Pundit Paul Merson is expecting a Chelsea victory against Manchester United.
United loanee Jadon Sancho is expected to miss this Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford due to illness.
Paul Merson has said Chelsea don’t need Sancho for this game, and is backing the speedy Pedro Neto to cause massive problems to United’s backline with his pace.
“It’s true that Manchester United were not lucky during the defeat to West Ham,” Paul Merson told Sportskeeda.
“But this is Manchester United we’re talking about, you can’t keep living on excuses like that.
“They were all over the place, lost the game and are in the bottom half. So the decision to sack Erik ten Hag was justified, no point waiting around!
“I think Chelsea will win this game. I only say that because they’ll play out from the back and the only way they can get beat is if teams get the ball from them high up the pitch by closing them down.
“I don’t think United will do that up front, they’re just lazy. So I have a feeling that Chelsea can play through them and win the game.
“Chelsea rested many of their players during the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle, but I didn’t understand their decision to keep Cole Palmer on the bench.
“If you don’t want to play him, why are you taking him all the way to Newcastle for the game? Just allow him to rest at home instead of asking him to take the long trip and sit on the bench all night.
“Chelsea should start Pedro Neto over Jadon Sancho in this game. Neto has pace and he can really hurt United.
“Sancho has this tendency to slow the game down a bit. Neto will be really useful when Chelsea beat United’s press and play through them.
“United went and won 5-2 against Leicester in their cup game. I’m thinking if Ten Hag was still there, Chelsea would be huge favourites in this game.
“But with Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge now, there will be a change for sure. They still look at bit disjointed though, not what you expect from a proper team.
“The problem is that United don’t have enough time to work on these things and beat Chelsea this weekend.”