Paul Merson heaped praise on Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard while predicting that his side will draw 1-1 with Liverpool on Saturday.
The Sky Sports pundit claimed the 27-year-old attacker was the best player in the Premier League by a long way in his opinion but still didn’t back the Blues to get a win in the league over the Reds when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Merson shared that he thought it would be a great result for Jurgen Klopp’s side if they were able to get a 1-1 draw against the Blues but dismissed any idea that Chelsea had a psychological edge over their opponents after beating them 2-1 in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
“This will be a very intriguing game, you’ve got Eden Hazard who you could see on Wednesday is the best of the best at the moment without a doubt but you’ve still got the big boys to come back for Liverpool like Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and the back four,” wrote Merson for Sky Sports’ website.
“I don’t think Chelsea will have a psychological edge, Liverpool rested their back four and it will be completely different from Wednesday, I thought Chelsea were outstanding in the first half but Liverpool got back into it and it will give them confidence to say ‘right, we can break them down’.”
“But it was like a boxing match, no one was really showing their hand until Hazard came on and you’re thinking ‘how do you stop him?’, I think Liverpool will be more than happy with a 1-1 draw, that would be a great result for them.
“I think Hazard is the best player in the Premier League by a long way, I don’t think anyone can do what he does and that’s what makes him better than everyone else in my opinion.
“On Wednesday, he beat three players, passed it, got it back and then beat two more players before smashing it in the corner, for me, no one else can do that in the Premier League, there are players who can go past people but they haven’t got that end product he’s got.”
OPINION
Hazard scored an amazing goal against the Reds on Wednesday night, there is no denying that. However there is an argument to be had about whether he is the best player in the Premier League. The Reds have several players who could make a case for why they’re the best in England’s top-division right now ahead of Hazard. However the Belgian playmaker could surely make Merson look right by excelling against the Reds on Saturday and robbing them of their 100% record in the Premier League so far this season. If Hazard was to do that then more pundits will be tripping over themselves to hail him as the best in the division. Yet that only has a small chance of happening as while the playmaker excelled against Klopp’s team on Wednesday, it will be a completely different defence that he has to best at the weekend. If Hazard can get past Joe Gomez or Virgil van Dijk with ease in the upcoming match then fair play to him, but it’s hard to imagine him doing that, no matter how hyped up Merson is about the 27-year-old’s talents.
