Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender and renowned football analyst, criticized Chelsea players Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella for their performances in a disappointing 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Enzo Maresca’s side started 2025 by dropping points, sparking concerns among both fans and analysts about certain aspects of their play.
Carragher specifically pointed out Chelsea’s defensive issues and poor game management. He commented after the match:
“They {Gusto and Cucu} remain weak spots for the team; the coach needs to address that… Chelsea lacks game management at times. They need to recognize when to slow things down, have players drop back, and have someone supporting Moises Caicedo in the midfield, rather than constantly pushing forward.”
Although Chelsea took the lead with a brilliant first-half link-up between Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho, they couldn’t maintain their advantage, allowing Palace to equalize and share the points. The result keeps Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League, but with Newcastle United just one point behind and Manchester City two points off, their position in the top four is under threat.
Both teams now shift their focus to the FA Cup third round. Chelsea will host Morecambe at Stamford Bridge on January 11, while Crystal Palace will play Stockport County the following day. Chelsea’s next league game is at home to Bournemouth on January 14, while Palace will visit Leicester City on January 15.
