Paul Merson uses Newcastle to explain why he’s so concerned about Chelsea right now

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While Newcastle United are flying high after their return to the Champions League, Chelsea have got a week off.

After a shocking season last time out, Chelsea were unable to qualify for any kind of European football. In fact, their poor performance was a contributing factor to Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League.

Now they are managed by Mauricio Pochettino, and have spent the summer spending huge amounts of money on the likes of Moises Caicedo, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer, plus more.

But for all the investment, it has not been a good start to the season for the Blues. They sit 14th in the Premier League table after five games, picking up just one win – and that was against bottom of the league Luton Town.

Newcastle have not started much better. They are one point above Chelsea, having won two games.

However, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has no concerns about Newcastle this season, and has actually used the Magpies to highlight why he is really worried about what is going on at Stamford Bridge.

Paul Merson compares Chelsea to Newcastle after slow start

Merson has written in his latest Sky Sports column about Chelsea’s start to the season, and compared it to Newcastle’s.

“I do worry, Chelsea have got to get going,” he wrote.

“And this hasn’t been the hardest start in the world. Apart from Liverpool on the opening day, every team they’ve played could finish in the bottom half of the table. Maybe that’s harsh on West Ham given the way they’ve started. But Bournemouth, Luton, Nottingham Forest – if they’re not in the bottom six or seven, I’d be shocked.

“So far, Chelsea have won one game – against Luton – and you’re wondering when they’re going to win a football match. I watched them on Friday Night Football against West Ham last week and thought: ‘who is the first team they’re going to beat?’

“It’s not like Chelsea have had Newcastle’s start, then you’d understand. You’d think: ‘we’ve got the big boys out the way and it didn’t work well but now we have to make some promising signs’. Bar Liverpool at home, every team finished in the bottom half last season. Pochettino needs to get it together.”

Fixtures have been really tough for Newcastle

While Newcastle only have one more point than Chelsea, they have a lot more reason to be optimistic.

Fixture wise, it has been a really tough start for the Magpies. In their opening five games, they have played four teams that finished in the top seven last season.

In contrast, Liverpool are the only team that Chelsea have played who finished in the top half during the 2022/23 campaign.

While Merson has used Newcastle’s start to express concern over Chelsea, it just shows why Toon fans should still be optimistic despite a tough start to the campaign.

More winnable fixtures are coming, and that will give Eddie Howe’s side a great opportunity to surge up the Premier League table.