Paul Merson claims top Premier League manager is 'two games from the sack' - and insists the head coach 'won't be there' next week if his side drop points again

Paul Merson is confident a top manager will be sacked if he drops points in either of his next two Premier League games.

The Sky Sports pundit, who played for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Arsenal during his Premier League career, fears a top head coach is on the brink of the axe after yet another defeat in the top flight last weekend.

Merson is concerned that Enzo Maresca will be sacked by Chelsea if he cannot steer his side to victory against both Southampton on Tuesday and Leicester on Sunday March 9.

Chelsea host the Premier League's bottom-placed side at Stamford Bridge just days after losing against Aston Villa on Saturday, slipping to seventh in the table despite a stellar start to the campaign.

Since Boxing Day, the Blues have won just two games from nine in the Premier League while also crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton.

Sending Maresca a stern warning on Monday, Merson said: 'If they don't win their next two games, the manager won't be there.

Paul Merson thinks a manager will be sacked if he drops points in either of his next two games

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca suffered defeat again against Aston Villa at the weekend

Merson believes it will be curtains for Maresca if Chelsea fail to beat Southampton on Tuesday

'They're playing against two of the worst teams to play in the Premier League for I don't know how long in Southampton and Leicester. So, if they don't win those two games, he will do well to keep his job.

'Chelsea have got to get in the Champions League. They need the Champions League to keep players like Cole Palmer as he will want to play in that competition.

'They will have to finish in the top five, otherwise I dread to think what's going to happen. I just don't see what the plan is. All the seven-year contracts and these players are not getting any better. How many of them have been a major success?'

A major issue facing Maresca is Palmer's declining form of late. The England star began the season with 20 goal contributions from 20 matches in the Premier League, but has failed to register a single goal or assists across his last five games.

Putting forward a theory to explain Palmer's recent drop-off in form, Merson added: 'Even Palmer has struggled now, Palmer needs Nicolas Jackson, and Jackson needs Palmer.

'Without Jackson's movement, Palmer gets suffocated out of the game. He hasn't got any movement in front of him. People give Jackson stick, but you can see how good he is now he's not in the team.

'Now, all of a sudden, they've got nothing up front, so no one's making the runs and Palmer's got no space. So he's getting deeper and deeper. Jackson's a massive miss.'

Maresca could not pick a better time to face Southampton and Leicester, who each lost 4-0 at the weekend against Brighton and Brentford respectively.

Cole Palmer has struggled for goal contributions without Nicolas Jackson leading the line

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester are another must-win game for Maresca and his Chelsea side

Saints, in particular, have endured a nightmare season at the foot of the table, accruing just nine points from 26 matches with two wins and three draws to their name.

Meanwhile, Leicester are 19th with 17 points - narrowly behind Ipswich on goal difference.