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\n\t\tPaul Merson previewed Chelsea vs Sunderland (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPaul Merson previewed Chelsea vs Sunderland (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n
Paul Merson<\/a> has revealed his prediction for Chelsea<\/a>\u2019s Premier League clash with Sunderland and urged Enzo Maresca<\/a> to drop Jamie Gittens<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gittens had \u2018his best game in a Chelsea shirt\u2019 in the 5-1 Champions League victory over Ajax on Wednesday night<\/a>, according to Merson.<\/p>\n But the former Arsenal and England winger still believes Gittens should come out of the side for Saturday\u2019s clash against Sunderland as he views Pedro Neto as \u2018first-choice\u2019 down that flank.<\/p>\n Chelsea will look to win their fifth game in a row when Regis Le Bris\u2019 impressive Black Cats visit Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n Maresca\u2019s side suffered three defeats in the space of ten days last month but responded with wins over Benfica, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Ajax.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Chelsea every day\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s Football Newsletter. <\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your team in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.<\/p>\n Despite Chelsea\u2019s red-hot form, Merson says he is not looking forward to the visit of Sunderland as the newly-promoted Premier League<\/a> side are a \u2018tough nut to crack\u2019.<\/p>\n He does, though, expect Chelsea to clinch their fifth league win of the season and inflict just the third defeat for Sunderland in nine games since their return to the top-flight.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I was at Stamford Bridge for the game against Ajax in the Champions League,\u2019 Merson told Sportskeeda<\/a>. \u2018It was a really young Chelsea team and I thought they did great in that 5-1 win.<\/p>\n \u2018But when I look back at Chelsea\u2019s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last Saturday, I think they were really fortunate. Forest had a lot of chances in that game.<\/p>\n \u2018Sunderland basically have a free swing at Chelsea this weekend and that makes it a dangerous game for the hosts.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web \u2018Everyone will be expecting Chelsea to win at Stamford Bridge and that could work in favour of Sunderland, if they can punch above their weight like they\u2019ve done all season.<\/p>\n \u2018Sunderland\u00a0are just six wins away from staying up in the Premier League and I think they will do it quite comfortably.<\/p>\n \u2018What I noticed about\u00a0Chelsea\u00a0in their win over Ajax is that when Moises Caicedo<\/a> came off, they were cut open through the middle like knife through butter.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It just shows how good he is and no matter what happens, Caicedo has to play every week for Chelsea. I don\u2019t put Declan Rice in that holding midfielder role because Martin Zubimendi plays there for Arsenal.<\/p>\n \u2018So I can confidently say that Caicedo is the best in the world in that position at the moment. I can\u2019t remember the last time he had a bad game.<\/p>\n \u2018The biggest compliment I can give him is that no one even mentions his price-tag anymore!<\/p>\n \u2018Chelsea should start Estevao, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto as their front-three against Sunderland.<\/p>\n \u2018Jamie Gittens had his best game in a Chelsea shirt against Ajax but I just think Neto should be first-choice down that flank.<\/p>\n \u2018As a Chelsea fan, the sooner we put this game behind us, the better because Sunderland are a tough nut to crack. I\u2019m hoping for a hard-fought Chelsea win.\u2019<\/p>\n England U21 winger Gittens is yet to score for Chelsea since his \u00a352m move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Chelsea saw off competition from several clubs to sign the 21-year-old<\/a> but he is yet to justify his hefty price-tag at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2242659270.jpg\")
\n\t\tJamie Gittens impressed in Chelsea\u2019s 5-1 win over Ajax (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tRegis Le Bris\u2019 Sunderland visit Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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