“If you want to have a chance at contending for titles or winning against the big teams, you need to replace these two players with more suitable players. They are the main reason you don’t stand a chance against big teams.” – Gary Neville asserts that Chelsea could contend for titles if they were to replace two specific players.

Gary Neville has indicated that Chelsea are just two players away from being contenders for Premier League titles again, following their narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

The former Manchester United defender believes that replacing Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez with world-class talent could soon lead to successes similar to those achieved under previous management by Todd Boehly.

Since Boehly and Clearlake took over in May 2022, no other club in the Premier League has invested as much as Chelsea, with over £1 billion spent across four transfer windows, three of which rank among the most expensive in history.

While patience has allowed many of these high-profile signings to begin paying off, Neville has identified two critical areas where Chelsea still needs to strengthen to be viewed as serious title contenders.

Sunday’s defeat at Anfield highlighted that Chelsea is still in the early phases of their development compared to Liverpool.

The Reds’ composed performance, bolstered by Arne Slot’s effective in-game management, allowed them to narrowly defeat Chelsea, who started the match with more energy.

Nevertheless, Enzo Maresca has instilled confidence in the fans, suggesting that brighter days are ahead, and under his leadership, they are already ahead of schedule in their quest to return to the top.

Gary Neville has indicated that Chelsea are just two players away from becoming contenders for Premier League titles again, following their narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

The former Manchester United right-back believes that replacing Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez with world-class talent could soon lead to successes similar to those achieved under previous management by Todd Boehly.

Since Boehly and Clearlake took over in May 2022, no other club in the Premier League has spent as much as Chelsea, investing over £1 billion across four transfer windows, three of which rank among the most expensive in history.

While patience has allowed many of these high-profile signings to begin paying off, Neville has identified two critical areas where Chelsea still needs to strengthen to be viewed as serious title contenders.

Sunday’s defeat at Anfield highlighted that Chelsea is still in the early stages of their development compared to Liverpool.

The Reds’ composed performance, aided by Arne Slot’s effective in-game management, enabled them to narrowly defeat Chelsea, who began the match with more energy.

Nevertheless, Enzo Maresca has instilled confidence in the fans, suggesting that brighter days are ahead, and under his leadership, they are already ahead of schedule in their quest to return to the top.

While discussing the dramatic victories of Manchester City and Liverpool on Sky Sports’ “The Gary Neville Podcast,” Neville first targeted goalscorer Nicolas Jackson.

The Senegalese forward has netted five goals and provided three assists in eight Premier League matches this season, yet Neville believes Chelsea still lacks a world-class striker.

“I think we know where their [Chelsea’s] weaknesses lie,” said the eight-time Premier League winner. “I don’t want to single out Nicolas Jackson because I think he can be part of a successful squad, but having a world-class striker in front of him would better align with a team capable of winning a title in the coming years.”

Later in the discussion, Neville remarked, “The two most challenging positions on the football pitch are centre-forward and goalkeeper. They are the most influential roles, and if Chelsea can secure two world-class players in those positions, I believe they could pose a significant threat to the top teams in the next few seasons.”

Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville’s co-pundit, shared a similar view on Robert Sanchez’s performance. After the match, the former Liverpool defender spoke to Sky Sports about Chelsea’s defensive lapse, stating, “It’s very disappointing from Chelsea’s perspective. Reece James just strolls in there. The goalkeeper is inadequate. Curtis Jones had a poor touch, but Sanchez also failed to do his job.

“Sanchez needs to assert himself and win that ball. Jones should be fearful of a goalkeeper approaching him. You have to get there and hope the ball hits you to make the save. If Chelsea want to return to their former glory, they need to find a new goalkeeper.”