{"id":1960,"date":"2026-08-23T07:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T07:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=1960"},"modified":"2026-08-23T07:06:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T07:06:38","slug":"paul-merson-has-one-worry-about-morgan-rogers-cole-palmer-and-joao-pedro-at-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=1960","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson has one ‘worry’ about Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro at Chelsea"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso could unleash one of the most exciting attacks in the Premier League this season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blues<\/a> have signed Morgan Rogers<\/a> to add to a frontline that already boasted Cole Palmer<\/a> and Joao Pedro<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What do you make of Asmir Begovic\u2019s Chelsea XI?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Individually, they are three of the best attackers in the Premier League<\/a>, but Paul Merson<\/a> is worried about how the trio will play as a collective unit.<\/p>\n

His biggest fear is that Rogers, Palmer and Pedro will all want to drop deep to collect the ball and end up getting in each other\u2019s way.<\/p>\n

Previewing the new Premier League season for Sky Sports<\/a>, the Arsenal legend and Chelsea supporter said: \u201cMy worry for them is there\u2019s a triangle \u2014 Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro all want to come and get the ball. It\u2019s going to get very congested in there. That\u2019s my only problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Alonso is a top coach. If he finds a way of those three players gelling and playing together \u2014 making one of them run in beyond \u2014 then Chelsea will have a very good season. But I don\u2019t see them getting 85 to 86 points, which is what Arsenal will get.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As things stand, it looks like Rogers and Palmer will start on the left and right of a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Pedro leads the line.<\/p>\n

The Blues ended pre-season using a back three, so there is a good chance that Alonso<\/a> goes with that when his side take on Fulham in their opening fixture next Monday.<\/p>\n

You would expect Chelsea\u2019s attack to be fluid and for there to be a lot of rotation, so Merson may not need to worry too much. Alonso\u2019s biggest headache right now will be his midfield.<\/p>\n

Despite Chelsea\u2019s 5pm deadline last Friday passing, there is still a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Enzo Fernandez. In normal circumstances, the 25-year-old would have been a shoo-in to start, but Alonso is going to have to make a decision.<\/p>\n

Fernandez has not downed tools<\/a> and is still trying so that is a positive and an indication that he is ready to play for Chelsea again. <\/p>\n

If the Argentina international stays and Alonso can get him, Rogers, Palmer and Pedro all in the same team and firing, Chelsea are going to have a very successful season. But there are still a lot of ifs and buts at the moment.<\/p>\n

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