“They’ll be like the Harlem Globetrotters again” – Merson speaks ahead of Chelsea v Spurs

Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson has had his say on what he thinks will be the outcome of Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Chelsea on Wednesday evening.

Tottenham’s Premier League title hopes took an almost fatal blow on Saturday in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Burnley which has left them six points behind league leaders Liverpool with eleven matches still to play.

A London derby awaits Mauricio Pochettino’s side at Stamford Bridge against a Chelsea side who are in a turbulent patch.

The Blues were taken to extra time and penalties in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley yesterday evening, with an extra 30 minutes hopefully sapping some of their energy ahead of the visit of Spurs.

There is also controversy on and off the pitch; they have been banned from signing any new players in the next two transfer windows and on the field goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga defied manager Maurizio Sarri in refusing to be replaced during the cup defeat.

Paul Merson has predicted that Spurs will be held to a draw against their rivals.

He told Sky Sports: “Well, the pressure is off Tottenham now so they’ll be like the Harlem Globetrotters again. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about them, where they get into a position to make things happen, and it doesn’t happen!

“This is not a fluke, this is quite worrying now if you’re a Tottenham fan. At half-time against Wolves in December, if you’re a Spurs fan you’re thinking: ‘We are right in this title race.’ 1-0 at half-time and cruising. They then get well beat.

“People were telling me: ‘They’re tired, they’re jaded,’ but they were 3-0 up against Cardiff in 26 minutes three days later. They then claw themselves back into the title race, go to Burnley knowing a win puts real pressure on, and they never look like winning it.

“I’ll go for a draw, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tottenham won it after Chelsea’s hard work on Sunday.

“Prediction: 2-2.”

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