Very Much Still Their Leak” Jamie Carragher Sheds On Two Chelsea Stars After Palace Draw

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender and well-known football analyst, criticized Chelsea players Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella for their performances in a disappointing 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Enzo Maresca’s team began 2025 by dropping points, leading both fans and pundits to question certain aspects of the team’s performance.

Carragher particularly highlighted issues with Chelsea’s defensive organization and game management. After the match, he stated:

“They {Gusto and Cucu} are still the leaks on the team; the coach needs to work on that… It’s game management where Chelsea are lacking at times. They need to know when to slow things down, having some men drop off, having someone sitting alongside Moises Caicedo in the base of midfield, instead of this constant trying to go forward.”

Although Chelsea took the lead through a brilliant first-half combination between Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho, they failed to hold onto their advantage, allowing Palace to equalize and share the points. The result keeps Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League, but with Newcastle United just one point behind and Manchester City two points off, their spot in the top four is now under threat.

Both teams now shift their focus to the FA Cup third round. Chelsea will host Morecambe at Stamford Bridge on January 11, while Crystal Palace will welcome Stockport County the following day. Chelsea’s next league match is at home to Bournemouth on January 14, with Palace set to face Leicester City away on January 15.