Jadon Sancho’s Chelsea Role Questioned After Tactical Challenges vs Liverpool: Can Cole Palmer’s Plan Work?
Jadon Sancho’s early performances for Chelsea have been solid, but his showing against Liverpool has exposed a dilemma for Enzo Maresca regarding his role in the squad.
While Sancho has contributed three assists in five Premier League games, his performance at Anfield was less impactful, raising questions about his ability to influence games against top opposition.
Chelsea managed to build through the thirds and maintain possession, but Sancho struggled to fully exploit Liverpool’s defense, particularly due to a lack of support on the left.
Malo Gusto, playing more conservatively, didn’t provide the overlapping runs that would have helped Sancho break down Liverpool’s defense, a contrast to his more effective partnership with Marc Cucurella against Bournemouth.
As a result, Sancho had to shoulder more responsibility but struggled to make meaningful inroads, despite being heavily involved.
The match highlighted a broader concern: Sancho’s reluctance to take shots. So far, he has had only one shot in the Premier League for Chelsea, a continuation of a trend from his time at Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, where he was more focused on dribbling and passing than goal-scoring.
This presents a challenge when players like Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea’s primary attacking threats, are neutralized by the opposition, leaving the team short on attacking options.
Sancho’s versatility and creativity are clear assets, but his lack of direct goal-scoring threat could see him fall behind in the pecking order, especially with players like Pedro Neto and Joao Félix vying for more game time.
If Sancho doesn’t add a more aggressive attacking edge to his game, Maresca may need to rethink his role in matches where Chelsea require a more dynamic, goal-threatening presence.
Jadon Sancho’s Chelsea Role Questioned After Tactical Challenges vs Liverpool: Can Cole Palmer’s Plan Work?
