Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with Arne Slot’s side failing to impress after their Premier League triumph last weekend.
A goal from Enzo Fernández, an own goal from Jarell Quansah and Cole Palmer’s late penalty secured all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side in their hunt for a Champions League place.
Virgil van Dijk’s header provided a late consolation goal for the Reds, but it wasn’t to be for the heavily rotated side in West London - with the manager giving numerous fringe players the chance to impress.
van-dijk-liverpool (2)
With the title in the bag, it was an excellent opportunity for Slot to evaluate the players at his disposal, giving him a clearer picture of what’s needed ahead of what’s likely to be a huge summer.
Whilst some players took their chance with both hands, many failed to grasp the opportunity handed in their direction - putting their future at Anfield in huge jeopardy.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Chelsea
Midfielder Curtis Jones was handed a rare start for Liverpool as part of the reshuffle, but was unable to extract his highest levels of performance - looking way off the high standards he’s set for himself.
The 24-year-old featured for the entire of the contest, only completing 33% of the dribbles he attempted, along with a 36% duel success rate - showcasing his lack of impact on the clash.
palmer-jones-chelsea-liverpool
He wasn’t the only player to disappoint at the Bridge, with centre-back Quansah scoring an own goal and giving away the penalty that led to Palmer’s stoppage-time effort.
His disappointing showing didn’t end there, winning just two of the six duels he contested, whilst committing two fouls which led to him being booked.
However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other first team member failed to deliver in the capital - with Slot desperately needing to sell him in the coming months.
The Liverpool star who needs to be sold after Chelsea
Slot has done a remarkable job in 2024/25 to lead Liverpool to the success they’ve endured, a feat that was unthinkable when he took the reins from Jürgen Klopp last summer.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The Dutchman has lost just three league matches out of a possible 35, showcasing the incredible job he’s done, with only one of the losses coming on home soil.
However, the real task awaits him in 2025/26, needing to sustain the levels they’ve produced this year if they are to have any chances of making it back-to-back titles.
If they are to achieve their goal, changes will need to be made, including the sale of striker Diogo Jota, who’s been unable to impress over the last couple of months.
The Portuguese international was handed a start against the Blues this afternoon, but like so often this campaign, he failed to deliver - undoubtedly contributing to the defeat.
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He featured for 58 minutes before being withdrawn, understandably so given his lack of impact during his near hour spent on the field.
Jota only registered a measly tally of 13 touches - the lowest of any player who started the game - whilst only posting a tally of four passes, showcasing how quiet and ineffective he was.
Diogo Jota's stats for Liverpool against Chelsea
Statistics
Minutes played
Touches
Passes completed
Dribbles completed
Ground duels won
Fouls committed
Shots on target
Stats via SofaScore
His poor showing didn’t stop there, failing to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst only coming out on top in 25% of the ground duels he entered.
The forward also committed four fouls, and was unable to direct any of his efforts on goal, subsequently struggling to provide the goods needed within the final third.
As a result of his dismal showing, the striker was handed a dismal 5/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle - further showcasing how disappointing he was throughout.
Given his showing, Slot must be left with no choice but to sell Jota this summer, desperately needing another forward to help them in their ambitions of retaining their title.
He and Quansah need to be the first out of the door, with the pair’s potential exit allowing for added investment across various areas of the squad - handing the depth needed for another title charge.
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