Chris Sutton Questions Liverpool Depth After Chelsea Defeat
Liverpool’s latest stumble against Chelsea has ignited fresh debate over their title credentials, with former striker Chris Sutton laying bare what he believes to be a critical weakness.
Arne Slot’s side slipped to a third consecutive defeat in all competitions, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge after goals from Moises Caicedo and Estevao Willian. This result leaves Liverpool second in the Premier League table, one point behind leaders Arsenal, but the mood around Anfield is cautious rather than confident.
Concerns Over Liverpool Squad Balance
Sutton used a Radio 5 Live phone-in to draw stark comparisons between Liverpool and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. He did not shy away from highlighting concerns in key defensive areas:
“I would be slightly concerned about the fullback areas and that central defensive area because you didn’t get Marc Guehi over the line. I watched Arsenal today, and I know it is West Ham. I know you can say that, but they cruised to victory. Their bench is so, so strong. You are just looking at Liverpool, and you are thinking that Arsenal have the foundation at the back, the strength they have in defence, that’s an area of vulnerability for Liverpool, and it is hard to see things really changing there, isn’t it?”
It is a brutal assessment, but not without merit. Slot has yet to settle on a consistent back line, and while Virgil van Dijk continues to lead by example, uncertainty remains around full-back cover and defensive rotation. The failed move for Guehi has clearly not gone unnoticed.
Impact Players Going Unused
Where Arsenal boast game-changing options off the bench, Liverpool’s depth appears under-utilised rather than non-existent. Federico Chiesa has already scored two late goals in the league and impressed against Southampton in the League Cup, yet remains overlooked when Liverpool are chasing matches. Rio Ngumoha has shown similar promise in limited minutes, suggesting that Slot does have attacking solutions available but has yet to fully trust them.
If Liverpool are to match Arsenal’s consistency, those players must transition from cameo appearances to key roles.
Slot Faces Test Of Selection And Nerve
Last season’s title win under Slot set high expectations, but his second campaign has started with turbulence. Finding a settled starting XI is now essential, as constant rotation is creating tactical confusion rather than competition. Relying on late substitutes is not a sustainable plan across a 38-game title race.
Liverpool remain close enough to Arsenal to keep the pressure on, yet Sutton’s warning is timely. Defensive assurance and braver substitution patterns could be the difference between another trophy push and an early surrender.
https://anfieldindex.com/86983/former-chelsea-forward-explains-liverpools-vulnerabilities.html