“If you replace him you will win the PL title” – Gary Neville claims Chelsea can win Premier League title if they replace £100k-a-week player

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Gary Neville’s Take on Chelsea After Their Loss to Liverpool

After Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool over the weekend, Manchester United legend Gary Neville had a bold prediction about the Blues’ future prospects. Despite the loss, Chelsea put in a solid performance and showed promising signs.

Chelsea’s Strong Performance Despite the Loss

Although Chelsea didn’t manage to secure any points in the match, they performed impressively on the field. Under Enzo Maresca, the team dominated various key stats. Chelsea had more possession, took more shots, and spent more time in Liverpool’s box than their opponents, which clearly showed their potential.

Neville was impressed by Chelsea’s display, despite the loss, and hinted that with a few tweaks, particularly replacing one of their starters, they could be title contenders in the coming years. For this season, Neville predicts Chelsea could land a top-four finish.

Nicolas Jackson’s Role in the Chelsea Lineup

Nicolas Jackson, who found the net at Anfield and now has five Premier League goals this season, avoided criticism from Neville. The Sky Sports pundit believes Jackson is contributing well but suggests Chelsea could be even stronger with a world-class striker leading the line.

Speaking on “The Gary Neville Podcast,” Neville remarked, “I don’t want to be too hard on Nicolas Jackson. I think he’s part of a successful Chelsea squad that has the potential to do great things.”

However, he noted that if Jackson were the second-choice striker, backing up a world-class forward, Chelsea could be in a stronger position to challenge for the Premier League title in the near future. Former West Ham player Nigel Reo-Coker echoed similar sentiments, saying Jackson’s main issue is a lack of composure in front of goal.

Bigger Concerns for Chelsea Beyond Jackson

At the moment, Nicolas Jackson is not Chelsea’s primary concern. The Senegalese forward, on a £100,000-per-week contract (as per Spotrac), is doing his part by scoring goals.

At just 23 years old, Jackson still has plenty of time to refine his game and potentially develop into the type of striker Neville believes Chelsea need. Meanwhile, other areas of the squad require more immediate attention.

One major concern is Robert Sanchez in goal. His distribution has been shaky, making him an unreliable option between the sticks. Additionally, Chelsea’s £100m midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been underperforming. In fact, he was dropped for one of the team’s biggest games of the season, highlighting the ongoing challenges Maresca faces.

Conclusion

In summary, while Nicolas Jackson shows promise and may evolve into the striker Chelsea need, bigger problems lie elsewhere for the club. Addressing issues like Sanchez’s inconsistency and Fernandez’s form should be Maresca’s priority if Chelsea is to realize their full potential moving forward.