Add as preferred source on Google Chelsea suffered their first Premier League defeat under Liam Rosenior at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon and now Gary Neville has picked the club to finish in sixth place.
Despite a strong attacking performance, where Chelsea looked threatening thanks to open play and set pieces, the Blues looked vulnerable in defence. Two goals conceded from set pieces, one scored.
Liam Rosenior was frustrated with Robert Sanchez throughout, before the Chelsea manager criticized his players for not applying what they had worked on all week. Rosenior says Chelsea worked on set pieces.
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Goals from William Saliba and Piero Hincapie canceled out Reece James’ own goal from a corner. In short, there are three league games without a win and only two points achieved out of nine possible.
Gary Neville makes a surprise pick by predicting his top six
Chelsea are currently in sixth place and as things stand, England will get five Champions League places. The coefficient shines in the Premier League and fifth place will guarantee qualification.
With the victories of Liverpool and Man United, Michael Carrick’s men have drawn level with Aston Villa, who lost to Wolves. Liverpool are three behind them and Chelsea are three more behind Arne Slot’s men, in fifth position.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville predicted the top six and believes Aston Villa will be sixth despite the six-point gap separating Chelsea and Unai Emery’s team with just 10 games left.
“I think Man United will definitely finish third. I can’t believe I’m saying that from where they were six weeks ago. But they have no distractions, something good is happening, all the momentum.
“I think Liverpool will finish fourth and I think Chelsea will finish fifth. I hope Villa finish in the top five, I really do. I just think it will be Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea. The question will be Chelsea or Villa for fifth place.”
What does Chelsea need to solve to finish fifth?
The problem that Rosenior has is threefold. The first, and inevitable, is that Chelsea are fighting on three fronts, just like Liverpool and Aston Villa. Manchester United are not in Europe and that is helping Carrick’s team.
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The other two problems are internal. The most obvious are set pieces and defending crosses, which has become a problem with Rosenior. Tosin’s return from injury could be Chelsea’s solution.
Pedro Neto will know very well that the third issue is discipline. Another stupid red card for a Chelsea player, with Neto earning a yellow card for dissenting and jumping into a tackle while booked.
If Chelsea and Rosenior can sort out their defense through crosses and set pieces, and go the rest of the season without receiving another red card, then they have a chance. But the games are difficult.
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