How Maresca can lift Chelsea to title push with Jackson freeing up Palmer

CAST our minds back to the first-half of the Premier League season and Chelsea were being talked about as Liverpool's closest competitors.

After 16 matches, the Blues had just been on a five-match winning streak and they were sat just three points behind Arne Slot's side.

Enzo Maresca was asked about challenging for the league and he played down Chelsea's chances, saying: "We are not in a title race.

"It’s not about the pressure for the players, club or me. For me it’s just the reality.

"We're ahead of our expectations in terms of the way we are playing and points, as our mission for this season is to develop players and just try to do our very best.

"I would like to have that kind of pressure… hopefully soon we can have that kind of title race pressure."

Since those comments, Chelsea's form has dipped and they have fallen to sixth in the table, 22 points behind Liverpool.

Maresca can still transform the club into title contenders but a lot needs to change.

The boss has missed Nicolas Jackson through injury in recent months and they have been unable to replace his running in behind, lay-offs and combinations with Cole Palmer.

Maybe another striker is needed in Jackson's mould to share the workload and stop a drop-off if he gets injured again.

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In the 3-0 win over West Ham, Maresca-ball was a joy to watch.

Jackson can drop deep to combine and then spin in behind to drag defenders with him.

There is a "box" midfield for the striker to work with as the full-backs invert to form the deepest points of a square as Enzo Fernandez pushes higher.

This frees up Palmer for him to work his magic and he can pick up pockets of space that Jackson frees up by pulling defenders away with his movement.

Chelsea were up there at the start of the season due to the inverted full-backs working wonders.

Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto impressed in the roles and Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were excellent.

But Chelsea have been worked out and their play has become too focused in the middle of the pitch and predictable.

The wingers are not good enough in one vs one situations.

There is not enough creation from the wide players and they need a left-footer on the left who can go on the outside and take defenders on.

With the full-backs inverted and the wingers cutting in - it is all far too narrow and Palmer then has no space in congested areas and his game is restricted.

Chelsea's games are being played in the width of the penalty box when someone must offer a threat on the flanks.

Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and Thomas Tuchel with England have spoken about the need for direct wingers.

Jamie Gittens, 20, is a target for Chelsea and they should break the bank to get him.

Meanwhile, the other thing that must change at Stamford Bridge is the man between the sticks - Robert Sanchez is not good enough.

He makes too many mistakes and his underwhelming passing has been putting pressure on the centre-backs.

Maresca wants his keeper to join the back line and become like an extra outfield player in possession.

Sanchez has been shaky with the ball at his feet. The No1 at Chelsea must be a good shot stopper and be comfortable playing out.