“Bench him from now on. He is already losing his quality this early into the season, this is definitely not a good sign” – Maresca is advised by Joe Cole to bench Sancho and give a chance to a Chelsea player who has been compared to Neymar. This move could bring fresh energy to the team, offering a dynamic option that might spark more creativity on the field

Chelsea suffered their first defeat since August 29, falling 2-1 to Liverpool last weekend. Despite the loss, Enzo Maresca’s team put on a solid display, controlling 57% of possession, restricting Liverpool to nine shots, and achieving an 88.1% pass accuracy—the highest recorded at Anfield since the 2004/05 season.

Their strategy to dictate the tempo, build from the back, and slow the game down proved effective, especially in the first half, as they generated numerous opportunities near the box but struggled to deliver the decisive pass or finish.

At halftime, Maresca decided to replace Jadon Sancho with Pedro Neto to inject more speed on the flanks and bring a quicker attacking approach. Sancho tended to slow down play and search for the ideal pass into the box, which wasn’t what the game needed.

Sancho’s performance against Liverpool saw him play 45 minutes, during which he had 26 touches, made 18 out of 21 accurate passes, and completed his only long ball. However, he struggled in other areas, failing to complete any of his three dribble attempts, losing all three ground duels, and losing possession seven times.

Bringing on Neto proved to be the right choice, as his pace and direct approach added a new dimension. The Portuguese winger played 45 minutes, recording 30 touches, completing 17 of 21 passes, delivering three key passes, successfully making two out of three crosses, and winning two duels.

The English winger has had a promising start at Chelsea since his summer arrival, featuring in five matches and contributing three assists. Sancho set up Christopher Nkunku’s decisive goal against Bournemouth in his debut and has demonstrated his skill in creative passing and delivering effective entries into the box from wide positions.

Chelsea’s upcoming UEFA Conference League clash with Panathinaikos on Thursday night sees Enzo Maresca naming his squad, with Jadon Sancho included, though his place in the starting lineup is not guaranteed.

**Chelsea’s squad update for the Panathinaikos game**

Several players will be absent, including Marcus Bettinelli, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, and Cole Palmer, who remained at Cobham, as they were not registered for this stage of the competition. Additionally, Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson, Reece James, and Malo Gusto did not travel to Greece for the midweek fixture.

In their absence, potential adjustments could include Benoit Badiashile at left center-back for Colwill, Enzo Fernández in a deeper midfield role without Lavia or Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku leading the line with Jackson unavailable, and Axel Disasi likely starting at right-back due to the absence of Gusto and James.

The squad traveling includes goalkeepers Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Lucas Bergstrom. The defensive lineup features Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga. The midfield options are Enzo Fernández, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Samuel Rak-Sakyi. Forwards include Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, João Félix, Nkunku, Sancho, Tyrqiue George, Marc Guiu, and 17-year-old Shumaira Mhueka.

Expected changes for Thursday’s starting lineup could involve Neto replacing Madueke on the right wing, Dewsbury-Hall and Félix taking up advanced roles, Veiga starting at left-back, and Jorgensen in goal.

A significant adjustment Maresca may consider is starting Mudryk, dubbed the “Ukrainian Neymar” by scout Jacek Kulig, instead of Sancho on the left wing.

**Why Mudryk deserves a start**

Since joining Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported £62 million plus add-ons in January 2023, Mudryk has made 66 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists across 3,188 minutes. This season, he has been behind Sancho and Neto in the pecking order, but his metrics suggest it might be time for a consistent run in the team.

**Mudryk vs. Sancho (2024/25 season per 90 mins)**

Mudryk offers a greater goal threat with 0.17 goals and 1.86 shots per 90 minutes, compared to Sancho’s zero goals and 0.26 shots. Mudryk also provides 6.32 progressive carries per 90, while Sancho manages five. Additionally, Mudryk contributes defensively with 0.50 tackles and interceptions per 90, outperforming Sancho’s 0.33.

While Sancho leads in creative stats, with 0.79 assists, five progressive passes, and 2.35 key passes per 90, Mudryk’s direct playstyle and higher xAG (0.58) make him a strong contender for a starting spot. For Mudryk, delivering consistent performances over a full 90 minutes is key if given the opportunity by Maresca.