Chelsea

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Chelsea played pretty well in their 2-1 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield. They even controlled the game for a spell in the first half - although they made painfully little use of the possession in dangerous areas, and ended up concluding that period by giving up a quick break that led to a penalty for Liverpool.

But for all of Enzo Maresca's talk of being delighted and impressed by his team with and without the ball, the reality was a little different, and the good start to this season has not obscured the flaws which have carried over from last year.

The simple fact is that this Chelsea team lacks a top goalkeeper and a reliable central defender duo. Both of those issues play into each other: a team can compensate for weakness in one position with strength in the other; but the two are so interdependent that problems bleed between them just as easily.

Liverpool's second goal was a perfect illustration. The defensive line stayed high, but allowed Curtis Jones to run beyond it. Robert Sanchez, a little spooked by his earlier clash with the midfielder, hesitated on his line. Both parties are left blaming the other as the Reds celebrate.

There is plenty of time this season for Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill to turn into the rock-solid pairing the team need. They certainly have the talent, but they are not there yet. And until they do, Chelsea's weaknesses in goal will continue to be exposed.

There are four young goalkeepers on the books behind Sanchez now - Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Djordje Petrovic and Gabriel Slonina. The hope is clearly that one of them ends up developing into a top-tier option.

The question is how many points Chelsea are going to drop while they wait for that to happen.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

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Our chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering the questions of BBC Sport readers.

Joey asked: Chelsea fan here. It’s refreshing to see the team performing better than last season, but where do you think there is still room for improvement?

Phil answered: Totally agree with you. I watched a Chelsea team at Liverpool yesterday that I think are really on the right road.

As for improvements, I think they need a better goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez is too vulnerable and he surely had to be more committed in the challenge on Curtis Jones when he scored Liverpool’s winner.

It would also help if a reliable goalscorer emerged, although there is no doubt Nicolas Jackson is improving.

I like what Enzo Maresca is doing, though, and I really fancy them to challenge for the top four on the evidence of what I’ve seen.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

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Former Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez says Chelsea need "to keep the balance" between their defence and attack if they are to win trophies, something the Spaniard thinks the Blues are yet to achieve.

Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day 2 following their defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Benitez said: "They can be proud because they were attacking, but if you want to win trophies you have to keep the balance.

"You have to be sure that you're good in defence but also in attack.

"They are very good offensively, but are they working in defence? I'm not sure about that."

Former Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott agreed, saying this Chelsea side need to work more effectively as a collective, "it's like a team of individuals playing to their own strengths.

"It's a team environment and I feel they haven't quite got that - yet. At times they're just doing their jobs but as a team are they doing a job together?"

Watch the full episode here

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Nick: Can't be too downhearted. A disappointing result but a fine performance. Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo in particular were outstanding - but credit due to Curtis Jones, who was Liverpool's best player by far. Only negative - it is surely time to recognise that Sanchez, while a great shot-stopper, isn't good enough to be goalkeeper in a club that aspires to be in the top four.

Phil: Once again Chelsea were the better side but failed to create many clear cut chances which you cannot afford to do against Liverpool even when they are not at their best. Oh, for a Diego Costa or a Didier Drogba.

John: Looking at the reports, and post MOTD comments, you would have thought that Liverpool won 6-0. For much of the game, they were second best and at the end were hanging on while Chelsea missed two good opportunities.

Mwazvie: Beautiful display. Shows a team that’s making speedy progress. It’s a team to watch next season as I think they can compete for titles. They only need to find better ways to break down teams that park the bus.

David: A good performance without really hurting Liverpool enough. I’m liking the confidence to play out from the back, dominate the midfield and get wide players on the ball. But not enough big chances created today, but you have to credit Liverpool for suppressing them.

Simon: Same old Chelsea. Poor performance, lack of quality and unless Cole Palmer turns up then there is nothing else. Some poor management as well. Mid-table this season again - it’s where we are.

Chris: Having been brought up on the likes of Bonetti, Cudicini, Cech, Desailly, Leboeuf, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ivanovic etc, I find watching this current Chelsea defence almost intolerable and devoid of talent. Sanchez thinks he can play like Ederson and he can’t. Maresca needs to sort this nonsense out!

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Are we seeing a new Nicolas Jackson this season?

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says the Chelsea number nine still has work to do but is showing "he has tremendous potential".

"He is starting to score goals and has a lot more confidence and belief in himself, " Reo-Coker told the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "Some of that might be from Enzo Maresca coming in and putting his faith in him.

"I think he has tremendous potential. He has all the attributes of a striker as he is strong and quick. If he had the mindset of wanting to be a game killer and score 30 plus goals a season then he could.

"But he has to work on his game. The biggest thing he is missing is composure. If he can learn how to have that in vital moments then he will score a lot of goals."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker does not believe Robert Sanchez is good enough to be Chelsea's number one goalkeeper.

"Sometimes he can be a liability for Chelsea," Reo-Coker said on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "He is a top shot stopper but there are too many mistakes in him and lapses of concentration.

"They need to improve in the goalkeeping area for them to talk about winning Premier League titles."

Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic disagrees with Reo-Coker and says Sanchez's hesitation in Curtis Jones' goal is because he had not long escaped conceding a penalty that was eventually overturned by the video assistant referee.

"The challenge in the first-half has possibly played on his mind," Begovic added. "He was close to giving away a penalty so maybe he was playing it a little bit safe.

"But it was just a really difficult ball by Mohamed Salah to deal with. It put Sanchez in a really difficult position. As a goalkeeper, I always think that if you are not sure whether to come out you should stay on your line and make yourself big."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

• Wolves 1-2 Man City

• Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

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Enzo Maresca spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Chelsea's defeat against Liverpool: "We don't like to drop points and lose a game, but if you have to choose a way this is the way.

"We came here and tried to control the game, dominate. For most of the game we played in their half and I thought the performance was fantastic.

"I came here many times in the past and I know how difficult it is but the way we controlled and managed the game was fantastic.

"This is the right direction."

On referee decisions in the game: "There are some decisions that have been clear for everyone, the referee is there to take a decision and they decide in a different way.

"It is a setback because we lost but the performance was probably one of the best of the season."

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Chelsea’s pass completion rate (88.1%) was the highest on record (since 2003-04) by an away team in a Premier League game at Anfield, with the previous-highest being Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in October 2022 (87.8%).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool's performance, external

What did you make of Chelsea’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are two matches that make up Sunday's Premier League action. Follow all the action and reaction on the links below:

• Wolves v Manchester City - 14:00

• Liverpool v Chelsea - 16:30

Kick-off times BST

Listen to commentary of both games on BBC Radio 5 Live

After impressive starts for Arne Slot at Liverpool and Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, the two meet at Anfield on Sunday in what is surely their biggest test so far.

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown, former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin join the Football News Show to preview the match, plus hear from fans of both clubs about the starts made under their respective new managers.

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Everyone is talking now about the tests coming up for Liverpool, who have started the season with what some people are calling gentler fixtures but, after this game, go to Emirates Stadium next weekend.

This is a tough game for them for starters. There has been a great rivalry between these two clubs in the past couple of decades and I don't think there will be much love lost when they meet on Sunday, either.

Can Chelsea go to Anfield and dominate Liverpool? I am not so sure. Alisson's injury is a blow for the Reds but Caoimhín Kelleher is a very capable back-up in goal.

At the other end, Arne Slot's playing style seems to suit Mohamed Salah and I am expecting Liverpool's attacking options to give them the edge.

Kellie's prediction: This is a big one. Chelsea are picking up a bit of form and Cole Palmer is a terrific player, but I am still backing Liverpool here. 2-1

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

Is Liverpool's impressive defensive record to the detriment to their attack?

How does Cole Palmer's Chelsea start stack up against the Premier League's best?

And how do Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca compare to their predecessors?

The Football News Show's Ben Croucher dives into the key stats behind Liverpool and Chelsea's impressive starts to the season, with the two sides meeting at Anfield on Sunday.

• Get the latest Liverpool news, interviews and analysis

• Stay up to date with all things Chelsea on their dedicated club page

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Liverpool and Chelsea have both made impressive starts to the Premier League season, but before their meeting at Anfield, The Football News Show asks if they are both in the running for the title.

Former Blues winger Pat Nevin outlines why he feels Arne Slot's Liverpool are - and why this season is too soon to expect silverware for Enzo Maresca and his team.

• Stay up to date with all things Liverpool on their dedicated club page

• Get the latest Chelsea news, interviews and analysis

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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The Premier League returns this weekend, with each club having played seven matches.

BBC Sport has looked at eight players that have performed better than fans may have expected this season.

What a couple of months it has been for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

He was an unused sub for the opening game of the season against Manchester City, but then scored in the 2-0 Europa Conference League win against Servette and been in fine form ever since.

A hat-trick against Wolves, his first in the Premier League, followed before he made his England debut and then scored a special equaliser for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Did you know? Madueke has four goals in six Premier League appearances this season, just one fewer than he netted in the whole of last term in the competition (five in 23 appearances).

See the other players BBC Sport picked here

Image source, Opta

With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.

Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.

Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.

Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.

Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.

At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin outlines to The Football News Show where Enzo Maresca's side have made steps forward this season, specifically praising Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo and a young squad that is maturing.

• Grab all your Chelsea content on their dedicated club page

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Chelsea have a fully fit squad to choose from, with only Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella missing through suspension.

• Maresca confirmed Reece James is available: "He is back. He worked with us all the international break. Finally he is back."

• More on the return of James: "Reece's body cannot play twice a week so one of the solutions is that we are going to try to manage him the same way we are doing with Romeo [Lavia]. The solution is to go slowly, slowly. In the future we may be able to use him in the week, but in this moment we need to use him once a week."

• He said Malo Gusto has been "fantastic" and for the age he is, the "maturity he is showing is top".

• On Ben Chilwell possibly getting a chance this weekend: "Chilly is one of our players. Unfortunately he has been ill for the past few days so has not had a session. We will see how he is today and tomorrow."

• Marseca confirmed reports that one of his analysts has "been approached" by new England boss Thomas Tuchel and believes there is interest in another member of his staff but with no approach made yet.

• On Liverpool and playing at Anfield: "It's a special game for all the clubs. Liverpool is a nice environment. We are excited to play in this kind of game but, at the same time, all the games we have played until now have not been easy. We are going to try to do our best and prepare in the best way we can to try to get the points."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news