Carragher claims Chelsea must improve on three key positions to win EPL

Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will not win the Premier League until the club improves three key positions in Enzo Maresca's squad.

Chelsea bolted out of the gate at the start of the Premier League campaign last year and were viewed by many as Liverpool's closest title rivals before the Christmas period — but have slipped behind Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle after a disappointing run of form.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's huge clash against Wolves on Monday night, with the Blues winless in the Premier League since December 15 against Brentford, Carragher opened up on what they needed to compete with the likes of Liverpool at the top.

He urged that the west London club lacked quality in one key position in particular, claiming their closest rivals all boasted better players in that area.

The Liverpool legend said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: 'What they've got is a lot of centre backs. They're not, in terms of squad size, short of centre backs, it's probably in terms of quality, in terms of one real standout.

'You think of (William) Saliba at Arsenal, you think of (Virgil) van Dijk at Liverpool. That's what this team needs, someone of that sort of stature.'

Chelsea recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace earlier this month, adding the 25-year-old defender to a rich list of centre-backs including England international Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino.

But according to Carragher, Chelsea will struggle to lift silverware without signing another player of higher quality in that area.

He went on to insist that qualifying for Champions League football should be the minimum expectation for Chelsea's young squad this campaign, given Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have splashed out over £1billion on new recruits since their arrival as owners.

Carragher also believes an upgrade in two more positions would put Chelsea within touching distance of Premier League silverware.

'I think Chelsea have to get Champions League football this season,' he continued.

'I know it's a young team, I get that, but the money that's been spent over the last couple of years with the new ownership, they've changed the manager, minimum requirement has to be Champions League football next season.

'And then you would imagine they invest in a goalkeeper, maybe a centre back, maybe another striker. Then they might be in a position to challenge for the title.'