Chelsea's Leap Towards Top Four Solidifies with Moises Caicedo's Arrival, Predicts Paul Merson

Chelsea has already shown significant improvement compared to last season, and with the addition of Moises Caicedo to their squad, they are expected to secure a top-four finish instead of Liverpool. Sunday's match made it evident that both clubs covet Caicedo's skills, which explains why his transfer fee amounts to £115m. Personally, I do not believe he justifies such a price tag, but Chelsea fans are unlikely to be concerned about the cost.

Liverpool displayed a vulnerability that was hard to overlook. It remains unclear who will step up to regain possession for them. Although Conor Gallagher effectively disrupted Chelsea's rhythm after a sluggish beginning, Liverpool lacked such a player. Had they faced elite teams like Arsenal or Manchester City on Sunday, they would have found themselves in significant jeopardy, potentially conceding four or even five goals. Liverpool's defensive flaws were frequently exposed without facing any consequences.

Arsenal was once known for being excellent in possession but lacking without it. It is crucial to prevent Liverpool from facing a similar predicament. The priority should be regaining possession of the ball. This is why they are interested in acquiring Caicedo; their intention is not solely to have him score 15 goals from the midfield, as Frank Lampard used to do. Liverpool's proficiency with the ball is commendable, but they tend to struggle when they are without it.

Positive signs for Poch

Before the Liverpool game, a draw would have been considered acceptable, but the disappointment of not winning overshadowed that expectation. Last season, Chelsea would have undoubtedly lost that game.

The team showcased a faster and more progressive style of play compared to the previous season. Enzo Fernandez's positioning higher up the field greatly contributed to this improvement. He is a truly exceptional player, one that demands to be involved in the game. It's as straightforward as that.

Nicolas Jackson's goal-scoring ability will be advantageous, particularly as he won't face Virgil van Dijk every week. He demonstrated his speed as a center-back by bypassing Ibrahima Konate with the ball.

Following their successful season last year, Chelsea has many positives going for them. I anticipate them to face West Ham this week and come out with a victory. Furthermore, I expect them to defeat Luton. This promises to be a strong beginning.

Spurs fans will enjoy Ange-ball

A friend of mine, who is a dedicated Tottenham fan and follows them religiously, sent me a text expressing his belief that the team would actually perform better without Harry Kane. While he acknowledges the seemingly absurd nature of this claim, he remains convinced. In response, I expressed my opinion that Tottenham would struggle to secure a decent position in the league without Kane.

Personally, I am a fan of Ange Postecoglou and I sincerely hope that he succeeds. I anticipate that Tottenham will have a similar playing style to Liverpool this season: their games will be a spectacle to watch, with an abundance of goals scored, but they may also allow quite a few goals against them.

However, I believe Tottenham supporters will find satisfaction in this outcome. They have endured an excessive amount of tediousness throughout recent years, and therefore, they will gladly accept this. Drawing matches 2-2 against Brentford, engaging in thrilling back-and-forth football, triumphing with 3-2 victories, and even succumbing to 4-3 defeats, are all results that they embrace. It is my hope that they will grant the manager an opportunity - I sincerely hope they do. Although it is worth mentioning that they have previously had £80 million or so to spend, and the consequences of that expenditure were not favorable.

Can Arsenal handle the expectation?

Arsenal is under immense pressure, with all eyes on them. Last season, no one anticipated them to secure a position in the top four, making their achievement commendable. Unfortunately, they narrowly missed out on winning the league.

During their recent match against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal managed to take a 2-0 lead. Naturally, you would anticipate them to build on this advantage. However, they adopted a defensive approach and became apprehensive. As a result, Nottingham Forest scored, making you worry that they might even the score at 2-2. It's worth mentioning that Forest had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Brennan Johnson missed a clear-cut chance.

The current situation places immense pressure on Arsenal compared to last season when they had no expectations. Back then, they would have likely won by a significant margin. While the recent result is positive for Arsenal, they need to acknowledge the challenges they currently encounter.

Eddie Nketiah has consistently proven himself reliable for Arsenal, which is highly commendable. The manager has immense faith in him. However, I do not believe he has the capability to lead Arsenal to the title. He is better suited for short-term appearances in three or four games, rather than being a consistent starter.

The squad appears somewhat depleted already, with Jurrien Timber suffering an injury and Gabriel being on the bench.

I found it confusing to see Thomas Partey playing as a right-back instead of Takehiro Tomiyasu. At times, the manager tends to overcomplicate things and takes inspiration from Pep Guardiola.

I expect Arsenal to challenge Man City for the league but if they don't perform they won't even be in the top four. That's how hard this league is. There are no gimmies.

Newcastle must finish in top four

I didn't expect Newcastle to suffer a defeat against Aston Villa, but their impressive 5-1 victory caught me by surprise.

Sandro Tonali has made an exceptional start, scoring a goal on his debut, and the addition of Harvey Barnes has proven to be a successful purchase. Their team displays remarkable energy and maintains a high tempo throughout the matches, leaving opposing teams struggling to keep up by the end.

They must finish in the top four, otherwise it would be considered underachieving since they must strive to make progress. It will be a challenging task, given the exceptional level of this league.

However, they cannot afford to miss out on securing a spot in the Champions League. They must continue to qualify and attract higher caliber players. Eventually, they will find themselves with a squad comprising six or seven such players.