Published: 03:02 EDT, 21 October 2024 | Updated: 04:15 EDT, 21 October 2024

View comments

Chelsea must abandon one star in particular if they want to fight for the Premier League title, Jamie Carragher has claimed.

Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and in truth they could have come away with a positive result.

The Blues had more shots and more of the ball but couldn't find an equaliser late on as the hosts held out for their seventh league win of the season.

It has been an encouraging start under Enzo Maresca for the Blues, who sit sixth in the Premier League and had gone unbeaten in seven prior to their Anfield defeat.

While goals have not been a problem - only Manchester City and Tottenham have scored more - Carragher is worried about one man at the back: Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea must ditch Robert Sanchez if they are to fight for the Premier League title, Jamie Carragher has claimed

'They need a new goalkeeper if they want to get back to where they want to be.'

It was a torrid day for Sanchez, who looked uncomfortable on the ball, clattered into Curtis Jones to almost give away a penalty and, in Carragher's view, should have done better for Jones' winner.

Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring with a penalty he could do little about, but after Jackson had equalised, Chelsea had been in the ascendancy until Jones managed to scramble the ball in.

'What I don't like is that when he goes he turns his face. It's almost like he's scared of getting hit by the ball,' Carragher said.

'You go back to Peter Schmeichel and when he'd come out he would just make himself as big as possible.

'He [Sanchez] comes out to Curtis Jones and Curtis Jones should be absolutely terrified that a 'keeper is coming towards him, he's 6ft 4, he's coming on top of him.

Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League after beating Chelsea at Anfield

'You've got to get there and hopefully it hits you in the face and keep it out.

'We talk about Chelsea and the money they've spent and where they still need things... they need a new goalkeeper if they're going to get back to where they want to be.'

Sanchez has made himself Enzo Maresca's established number one this season and saved a penalty against Bournemouth - but has never earned comparisons to the likes of Ederson, Alisson or David Raya after arriving for PS25million on a seven-year deal from Brighton in August 2023.

Injuries ruled him out of the second half of last campaign and in his absence some fans felt that his replacement Djordje Petrovic did a better job.

The fact the Blues have conceded 10 goals compared to Liverpool's three also suggests improvements can be made.

Chelsea are next in action against Panathinaikos in the Europa Conference League on Thursday before they host Newcastle on Sunday.