Paul
Merson says he would be shocked if Chelsea weren't crowned Premier League
champions in the next four years after their seismic title-deciding victory
over Manchester City.
Chelsea confirmed Liverpool's ascension to the pinnacle of English football
for the first time in 30 years with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the former
champions at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
The victory - Chelsea's fourth in a row in all competitions and second since
the restart - left the Blues on course for a top-four finish.
Merson believes securing Champions League football coupled with Roman
Abramovich's recent financial backing in the transfer market will lay the
foundation for greater prizes in the coming years.
"To go and beat Man City was massive," he told Sky Sports. "It was massive
because everyone is looking to close the gap.
"Chelsea have got nice fixtures between now and the end of the season, so I
don't think there's any way they're not finishing in the top four."
Merson added: "I think Chelsea need a left-back, and they might need another
centre-half, and then they'll be a major force next season. I don't think
they'll win the Premier League next season, but the gap won't be as big.
"They mean business. The owner has been brilliant; he's weighed it up and
gone - bang! Here's your money.
"He's looked at the situation and thought, 'Tottenham are struggling, Pep
Guardiola won't be at City forever,' and he's trying to get into the top
four, close the gap and challenge when they have their chance.
"With Liverpool putting up records like they have with their players being
as good as they are, it's only a matter of time before the likes of
Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling.
"In three or four years, I'd be quite shocked if Chelsea don't win the
Premier League."
Lampard proving big-game credentials
Chelsea's hopes of challenging for the title in Frank Lampard's maiden
season in charge were hampered before a ball had been kicked.
The club's summer transfer ban forced the Blues legend's hand as cries for
academy players to be given a chance were finally listened to.
On the pitch, Lampard's desire to entertain the Stamford Bridge faithful -
just as he did in his playing days - resulted in a number of debilitating
results against so-called lesser opposition, but Merson believes valuable
lessons have been learned.
"Those odd results against lesser teams were a show of inexperience from
Frank at the time," the Sky Sports pundit said.
"Coming into a big club like Chelsea, he wanted to entertain in those games
he lost. He was thinking, 'I better entertain the man behind the goal'.
"When you're an experienced manager you know you can't do that against teams
who defend deep all the time. But now, he's getting better, he's making big
decisions now during games."
Chelsea - title contenders next season?
Gerard Brand on the Sky Sports Football Weekend Review podcast:
'We'd all like to think Chelsea can challenge next season, it would be great
to have a three or four-horse race, and it would be a great story with
Lampard after the transfer ban. I believe they're a couple years off,
though.
'Let's not forget some of the results they've had this season; they've lost
against West Ham, Bournemouth and Southampton at home without scoring a
single goal, and they've also lost to Newcastle away and drawn at
Bournemouth and Brighton. They were extremely inconsistent from November to
February.
'There's little doubt it's exciting and positive at Chelsea at the moment,
but I'd like to see a bit more from them against low blocking teams. That,
really, is the key to a title challenge.
'The better Chelsea get on the personnel front, the more high-profile
signings they make, the more the majority of the Premier League will put up
that sort of defence.'
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