Following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, Gary Neville emphasized the urgent need for the club to sign a world-class striker to become serious Premier League title contenders. While Nicolas Jackson managed to score for the Blues at Anfield, his efforts were overshadowed by goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones, securing victory for Liverpool.
Despite the loss, Chelsea has had a promising start to the season under head coach Enzo Maresca after a turbulent period. Neville, however, believes that to truly challenge for the title, Chelsea must bolster their attacking options. “I think we know their deficiencies,” Neville stated on his Sky Sports podcast. “I don’t want to call out Nicolas Jackson, because I think he can be part of a very successful squad. But if he had a world-class striker in front of him—where he could play as a second striker—that would align better with a team capable of winning a title in a few years and catching up to Liverpool.”
Daniel Sturridge, also weighing in, suggested that the media has been “too critical” of Jackson, who has tallied five goals and three assists in his first eight Premier League matches this season. “Nicolas Jackson is pivotal to the system. He’s adept at playing in the false nine position, and it was a fantastic finish against Liverpool. I think he has what it takes to develop into a more prolific goal-scorer,” Sturridge noted.
Comparisons to legendary strikers like Didier Drogba and Hernan Crespo can be daunting for young players. Sturridge expressed that these high expectations might contribute to the harsh judgment of Jackson’s performances.
Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda added that signing long-term target Victor Osimhen could be a game-changer for the club’s title ambitions. “Chelsea should be competing for the world’s best players, and Osimhen is in that category,” Malouda stated. “Adding quality to the squad is essential for any ambitious club, and his presence would bring Chelsea closer to challenging Manchester City and Arsenal.”