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The former Arsenal player, Paul Merson, is back with his predictions for the semifinals of the Carabao Cup this week.
With Manchester City already 9-0 in the first leg against Burton Albion, the goal will be to determine who will be the winner in the Wembley Stadium final at the end of next month.
Tottenham Hotspur holds a slim advantage from a goal of two weeks ago against Chelsea thanks to a penalty kick from Harry Kane.
However, Mauricio Pochettino's team travels to Stamford Bridge without its top scorer this season, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli after suffering a tendon tendon injury during the 2-1 win over Fulham this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Blues enter the match after a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, a result that saw Maurizio Sarri furiously hitting the performance of his players.
Merson does not expect the Italian to change tactics against a weakened Spurs team on Thursday, but predicted a long night for those at the Bridge and for the hosts to take it.
"It's a good time to play Tottenham," said Merson at Sky Sports. If you could say it before the match, you can withdraw three players from this team before the match, they would be three of four, Christian Eriksen and them.
"I'm not the biggest fan of Moussa Sissoko either, but he played well for them and he is also absent.
"I still think Tottenham has a chance, I do not see Chelsea blown away for the moment by the way they play, they are already 1-0, so it could be a long night."
"I would not be surprised if it goes into overtime.
"Tactically with Chelsea, I do not think there is any plan, he's playing the same way every week, and in the last few weeks he's struggled to dismantle the teams – they're not 10-15 chances per game, and it will be difficult, it will be a difficult match.
"But because of Spurs' injuries, I think Chelsea will be about to defeat him."
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