- Chelsea have fallen out of the top four after a disappointing run of form
- Jamie Carragher has revealed what Chelsea need to win a Premier League title
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Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will not win the Premier League until the club improves three key positions in Enzo Maresca's squad.
Chelsea hit the ground running at the start of the Premier League campaign last year and were considered by many to be Liverpool's closest title rivals before the Christmas period, but fell behind Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle after a disappointing streak. .
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's big clash against Wolves on Monday night, with the Blues winless in the Premier League since December 15 against Brentford, Carragher spoke about what they needed to compete with the likes of Liverpool at the top .
He insisted that the west London club lacked quality in one key position in particular, claiming that all their closest rivals had better players in that area.
The Liverpool legend said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: “What they have is a lot of centre-backs.” They are not lacking centre-backs, in terms of squad size, but probably in terms of quality, in terms of a really outstanding player.
“You think of (William) Saliba at Arsenal, you think of (Virgil) van Dijk at Liverpool. That's what this team needs, someone of that stature.”
Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will not win a title until the club improves three key positions
According to the Liverpool legend, Chelsea are missing 'outstanding' quality in particular in central defense
The Champions League should be the minimum goal for Enzo Maresca, believes Carragher
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 that includes England international Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Aaron . Anselmino.
But according to Carragher, Chelsea will have difficulty winning trophies without signing another player of greater quality in that area.
He went on to insist that qualifying for the Champions League should be the minimum expectation for Chelsea's young squad this campaign, given that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have spent more than £1 billion on new recruits since his arrival as owners.
Carragher also believes an improvement in two more positions would put Chelsea within striking distance of Premier League titles.
“I think Chelsea have to win the Champions League this season,” he continued.
“I know it's a young team, I understand that, but the money that has been spent in recent years with the new owner, they have changed coaches, the minimum requirement has to be the Champions League next season.
“And then you imagine that they invest in a goalkeeper, maybe in a center back, maybe in another forward.” Then they could be in a position to fight for the title.'