Paul Merson outlines this guarantee for Chelsea against Hull: Title rivals under pressure

That is the view of player-turned-pundit Paul Merson.

The Blues bounced back from defeat at Tottenham to comfortably win 3-0 at champions Leicester on Saturday.

And Antonio Conte's side managed the feat without Diego Costa, who is expected to return to the starting XI for the Hull clash.

With Merson seeing a Chelsea victory as a guarantee at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (4.30pm), he insists their title rivals must match them this weekend.

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Paul Merson believes Chelsea players just have to turn up to beat Hull on Sunday

City have to win because I expect Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to get all three points

Paul Merson

Liverpool and Arsenal are at home to Swansea and Burnley respectively, but Merson believes Tottenham's showdown with Manchester City will prove the most pivotal in the coming days.

"On paper it's an easy game for Chelsea," Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column.

"Like Liverpool and Arsenal I expect a comfortable afternoon for the Blues and that's why it puts so much pressure on Man City's clash with Tottenham.

"City have to win because I expect Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to get all three points.

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Pep Guardiola's Manchester City must recover at Tottenham from their 4-0 Everton defeat

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"If City don't win and all the teams around them do, they'll be cut adrift.

"Whatever happens, it'll be three points at Stamford Bridge for Antonio Conte's side."

Premier League leaders Chelsea have a seven point lead on both Spurs and Liverpool, with Arsenal a further point behind.

The gap to City, though, is a mammoth 10 points, and defeat for them at White Hart Lane could rule Pep Guardiola's men out of the running this season.

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