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Football London
Football London
Sport
Bobby Vincent

Thomas Tuchel told of new 'Rolls Royce' Chelsea undroppable as Champions League prediction made

Paul Merson has called on Kai Havertz to become a regular fixture in the Chelsea starting line-up following his performance against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Germany international was given the nod ahead of Romelu Lukaku after he impressed against Lille in the UEFA Champions League a few days before and he shone for the Blues, despite the eventual penalty shootout defeat.

Havertz has been in and out of the starting XI under Thomas Tuchel in recent times, but he was used in the middle of a front three consisting of Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

The 22-year-old has been used as a false nine through a lot of his time at Chelsea and he once again impressed at Wembley - with the German thinking he had opened the scoring on two occasions, only for them to be ruled out for offside.

Now, with the Lukaku situation still a major talking point, Merson has called on Tuchel to make the "Rolls Royce" Havertz a regular in his starting line-up.

Writing in his Sky Sports column, Merson said: "Havertz has always got to play. Havertz is one of Chelsea's best players. People forget he is class. He knits things together. He's a Rolls Royce, he glides round the pitch.

Kai Havertz of Chelsea (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

"He doesn't do the hustle and bustle, winning 50/50 tackles and all the kind of stuff. People think he's a bit lazy, but he's a Rolls Royce. Different class, and he always has to play."

Havertz played in a big part in what was a breathtaking final, despite the match ending in a goalless draw.

Merson, who was referencing the match on Sunday, has described Chelsea and Liverpool as the two favourites to win the UEFA Champions League.

He added: "I watched the game on Sunday and those two are not going to be a million miles away from winning the Champions League.

"They have got the best two defences in Europe and if you want to win Champions League football over two legs, you need to keep clean sheets.

"I think those teams have the ammunition going forward. People will say: 'Well, it was 0-0', but it was not a 0-0 game, was it? It was outstanding.

"Great goalkeeping, great defending, good centre-forward play. Not great finishing, but it just showed me that both teams are bang in there for the Champions League.

"One of them two [will win the Champions League]. They are so good at the back. I watch Man City and they will give you a chance.

"I think Liverpool have got more chance of winning the Champions League than the Premier League. They can lose three more matches in the Champions League and still win it, but if they lose three Premier League games they have got no chance. They have got no leeway in the Premier League."

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