Paul Merson shocked by what he’s told live about Chelsea at Crystal Palace
Paul Merson was left shocked to discover one fact after Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Things started well for Enzo Maresca’s side as they made the trip across London on Saturday, with Jadon Sancho brilliantly setting up Cole Palmer to open the scoring after 14 minutes.
After that though, the visitors missed a number of chances through the likes of Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, while also being controversially denied a penalty in the second half.
All that proved costly when Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised late on for the hosts, meaning Chelsea are winless in their last four games, and sit nine point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, having played two games more.
Comparing those two sides after the game on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (5:24pm), Merson said: “When I watch Liverpool they go boof, boof, boof and they’re away. With Chelsea it’s a touch, it’s a touch, it’s a touch, it’s there and then it’s there. It’s nice, they just haven’t got that…”.
After host Simon Thomas then informed him his comments were backed up by the fact that the Blues had just one shot on target during the whole game, the former Arsenal man reacted by saying: “Is that what they had today?! Well that’s unbelievable.
“They had some good chances, really good chances, but again not clinical. I’m not picking on Jackson, I like Jackson, but he’s not a finisher… I played with Ian Wright, everything would hit the target.”
Chelsea must start taking their chances if they are to challenge for trophies
Football Insider Opinion
It is surely going to be a concern for Maresca that his side are not taking more of their chances in games such as this.
With regards to the openings they created, Chelsea had more than enough to claim a comfortable victory against Crystal Palace here.
Goals of course win you games and so if they are to become the trophy-winning side that many are touting them to develop into.
In Jackson’s defence he has looked more prolific this season, but missed plenty of opportunitites at Selhurst Park, and so he must ensure he does not revert to those issues of the previous campaign.
Chelsea may feel that these dropped points could have been avoided if they had been given the penalty many felt they should have had while leading 1-0.
That though may have papered over the cracks, and so drawing attention to this now means there is no getting away from the fact that Maresca needs to address his side’s form in front of goal quickly.
In other news, Chelsea fans want two players sold after the latest Enzo Maresca update.
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