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Just a few short weeks ago, Liverpool v Chelsea looked set to be a potential top-five decider as both sides had struggled for form in the hunt for Champions football next season.<\/p>\n
Liverpool’s decline has been well-publicised and no doubt relished by opposition supporters, but Chelsea’s drop-off, which accelerated in March and April, has been no less profound.<\/p>\n
A team that early in the season were tipped by some as title contenders have experienced a complete collapse in the final third of the season, as Liam Rosenior’s 10-week tenure dissolved into farce and left the club looking down nervously at the bottom half of the table.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Arne Slot provides Alexander Isak and Alisson updates as surprise Liverpool return on cards<\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Chelsea boss responds to alarming claim ahead of Liverpool and confirms new injury blow<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSuch is their position with three games remaining that regardless of finding a win at Anfield, Chelsea will no longer be able to qualify for next season’s Champions League – while Liverpool find themselves in the position where one win from the next three would all but confirm at least fifth place.<\/p>\n
It is not the position either set of supporters hoped to be in at the start of the season. The Reds were seeking dominance after the title win and the apparently transformative signings of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, while Chelsea had just won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup under Enzo Maresca and had qualified for the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Maresca was dismissed in January after publicly criticising club staff and senior management, with reports emerging that he was being considered for the Manchester City job if Pep Guardiola chooses to move on this summer. Rosenior, meanwhile, had little experience despite promising spells at Hull City and Strasbourg.<\/p>\n
The ECHO spoke to The Mirror’s Chelsea correspondent Bobby Vincent, who had sympathy with Rosenior given the difficulty of what he was tasked with when joining from fellow BlueCo-owned outfit Strasbourg in January.<\/p>\n
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\nLiam Rosenior was sacked in April, just three months into a six-and-a-half-year contract at Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
“A mid-season change in head coach was never the plan for Chelsea,” he said. “But the club’s relationship with Enzo Maresca became fractured and a switch was inevitable in the end. Rosenior had a difficult job on his hands, inheriting a squad that, by all accounts, really liked the previous manager.”<\/p>\n
Pedro Neto told Sky Sports in January he was “surprised” by Maresca’s departure, and rumours have circulated that several players were unhappy with the club’s decision to part ways with the Italian.<\/p>\n
Vincent demanded to see more “fight” from players before the end of the season, with it clear that Rosenior had lost the dressing room by the time Chelsea lost 3-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in his final game at the helm.<\/p>\n
“The character and personalities within the squad has been really disappointing,” he said. “They downed tools towards the end of Rosenior’s reign and that isn’t good enough.<\/p>\n
“They showed some fight in the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United, but then went back to their former selves in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.”<\/p>\n
Chelsea created 0.37xG against Brighton, a dour attacking performance that didn’t significantly change against Leeds, a game in which they created just 0.38xG.<\/p>\n
They managed 2.15xG against Forest, dominating the possession, but managing only a late, great consolation goal via a vicious overhead kick from summer signing Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n
“There were a few raised eyebrows when Chelsea paid \u00a360million for his services last summer,” Vincent said, “But the Brazilian has taken to Stamford Bridge like a fish to water.<\/p>\n
“He has now scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Blues. His goal scoring has been brilliant but his all-round play has been equally as impressive.<\/p>\n
“An excellent piece of business for Chelsea.”<\/p>\n
Liverpool were linked with the Brazilian former Brighton striker before signing Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer. While it’s unclear whether Pedro was ever under serious consideration, there was a sense at the time that Liverpool had got the better deal.<\/p>\n
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\nJoao Pedro’s spectacular goal was too little too late for Chelsea, who can no longer qualify for the Champions League(Image: Javier Garcia\/Shutterstock)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
But with Isak struggling for fitness and form and Ekitike’s situation unclear after being ruled out long-term with an Achilles injury, the Reds have been crying out for star power in attack.<\/p>\n
Despite Pedro’s performances, Vincent has been disappointed with the rest of Chelsea’s recruitment. The squad’s lack of leaders – a common concern amongst Liverpool supporters, too – has been heavily criticised over the course of the season.<\/p>\n
“The recruitment last summer was not good enough,” he said. “Out of all the signings the club made, you can only really point at Joao Pedro as a resounding success.<\/p>\n
“Estevao Willian should be that, too, in time but injuries have plagued the teenager in the second half of the season. Chelsea’s squad at the moment, despite all the money spent, is nowhere near the level required in this league.<\/p>\n
“The summer recruitment needs to be a whole lot better; sources say the club will slightly alter their transfer policy and Premier League proven players will be on the list.<\/p>\n
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!<\/strong> All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n “Some sort of experience needs to be signed. Chelsea need to find the right balance because this season has shown, time after time, the squad is immature.”<\/p>\n
Liam Delap, one of Chelsea’s marquee signings last summer, has flattered to deceive with just two goals in all competitions and looking a poor fit for the team’s style of play.<\/p>\n
Left-back Marc Cucurella criticised the club’s policy of prioritising youth at the cost of signing players at peak age or older in an interview with The Athletic last month, telling directors “you need to find the balance”.<\/p>\n
To compound Chelsea’s misery, talisman Cole Palmer has had a season to forget. He missed a penalty against Forest but, more concerningly, only has one assist to his name in the league so far this season.<\/p>\n
“Palmer has, to be fair to him, been plagued by a complex groin injury all season,” Vincent said. “Sources say it is not a straightforward problem and it requires day-by-day assessment and care.<\/p>\n
“However, he recently said he ‘turned a corner’ in relation to his fitness, so I’m not even sure you can put it down to that anymore.”<\/p>\n
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\nPalmer’s missed penalty against Forest was the latest disappointment in a season in which he has performed far below his level(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
‘Cold’ Palmer has been anything but his usual imperturbable self, lacking the effortless confidence that seemed to accompany him for every action since joining from Man City in 2023.<\/p>\n
As Liverpool fans saw earlier in the season in the case of Alexis Mac Allister, the relentless pace and number of games at the top level offers little opportunity to manage complex injuries, which could start to raise further questions about decisions like the one to expand the Champions League format last season when players are unable to return to their previous levels.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, though, the England international is several years younger than the Argentine and Vincent felt he hadn’t been helped by the tactics of Chelsea’s last two managers.<\/p>\n
Vincent continued: “Palmer, at his best, is the most confident footballer on any pitch, but right now his confidence looks shot. His best football at Stamford Bridge came when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge and the Argentine allowed him to play with such freedom – something he’s not really been permitted under the last two permanent head coaches.<\/p>\n
“Either way, Palmer himself needs to take accountability for what has been a poor campaign for him.”<\/p>\n
Pochettino was another who left after clashing with BlueCo top brass. Having seen a whole host of managers exit through the revolving door at Stamford Bridge, even after achieving success with the club as in the case of Maresca, Vincent is accustomed to churn at Chelsea and his club will now likely end the season without a permanent head coach in situ.<\/p>\n
Questions remain around Liverpool’s head coach position. Within a week of Rosenior’s appointment, Xabi Alonso parted ways with Real Madrid, further increasing the pressure on Arne Slot after three successive Premier League draws.<\/p>\n
But the Reds stuck with Slot, choosing to hedge their bets on stability as rivals Manchester United also changed their manager. Vincent, though, shares the view that a change in the dugout at Anfield this summer wouldn’t be jumping the gun.<\/p>\n
“Obviously, Slot did such an amazing job last season,” Vincent said. “I also don’t buy the: ‘He had Klopp’s squad, so it was a lot easier to win the league’, because Klopp himself didn’t win the league with that squad.<\/p>\n
“This season, though, for a multitude of reasons, it has been really difficult for the Dutchman. If Liverpool can replace Slot with Xabi Alonso, for example, I think it would be the right time for the club to shake Slot’s hand in the summer and thank him for what he’s done.”<\/p>\n
While Alonso remains the most popular option amongst supporters, there is little indication that Liverpool executives are considering replacing Slot with the former Reds midfielder.<\/p>\n
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\nXabi Alonso has been linked with the vacant Chelsea managerial position since Rosenior’s dismissal(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/button><\/div>\n
Instead, it is Chelsea who have been most heavily linked with Alonso in recent days. Securing the Basque tactician’s services would be a real coup for the London club, but betting companies remain convinced he is most likely to join Liverpool should Slot leave in the summer.<\/p>\n
For now, Chelsea first-team coach Calum McFarlane will take charge of the Blues’ remaining games this season. He previously oversaw two games as interim after Maresca’s sacking, and Vincent was pleased by the team’s response in McFarlane’s first game back in the FA Cup against Leeds – but still has his doubts over which version of Chelsea will show up on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“The Leeds game was great,” he said. “Chelsea looked like a properly functioning team, as mentioned above, with their effort and fight exactly what you want to see.<\/p>\n
“However, the defeat to Forest was poor. The first two goals they conceded were awful – once again, the Blues were punished by some really schoolboy errors.<\/p>\n
“It’s difficult to say what to expect from a McFarlane side because of the contrast in the two most recent performances.”<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to the game, Vincent predicted an open midfield battle which Chelsea could look to exploit.<\/p>\n
He said: “I think the midfield battle is always key in a game like this. Romeo Lavia has done well against Liverpool in the past but he’s not been at his best since returning to the side.<\/p>\n
“It will be interesting to see if McFarlane puts Andrey Santos in there to add more energy. Liverpool’s midfield have struggled this season, so I think Chelsea may look to win the game in the centre of the pitch.<\/p>\n
“The key thing for the Blues is to possess an attacking threat – but that is something they have really struggled with in the Premier League over the last couple of months.”<\/p>\n
Vincent’s final score prediction? 1-0 to Liverpool.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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