Chelsea

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Liam Rosenior's substitutions in Saturday's draw with Burnley have been questioned by some Chelsea fans.

The Blues started the game with two central defenders on the pitch, and ended the game with four, despite having lost one along the way to a red card.

You could argue that bringing on so many defensive players handed the initiative to Burnley. But there's another angle to those decisions: there simply wasn't a reliable attacking player on the bench for Rosenior to turn to.

His bench had a grand total of three league goals between them this season.

Estevao is a teenager, and missed the game with an injury. Jamie Gittens is also injured - and hasn't done much to show he deserves to be relied upon in any case. Alejandro Garnacho is fit, but clearly not in form or favour.

When you add them to the discarded pile of Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix from last summer, it's not a pretty picture. Pedro Neto has been the biggest success of all the wingers these sporting directors have signed, and even he struggles to live up to a massive £52m transfer fee on a consistent basis.

Their record of buying in these positions has been as poor as their record of buying defenders. The fact they've been able to get good fees for selling some of them shouldn't disguise their repeated failure to upgrade the options available to their coaches, despite spending huge amounts.

Rosenior brought on those defenders to protect a one-goal lead. If he had better attacking players at his disposal, that lead might have been two or three already. It's a problem that needs to be sorted in the summer, but most fans have little faith at this point that the right moves will be made to do that.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior is reluctant to let striker Liam Delap leave this summer, amid interest from Everton. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior is yet to name an unchanged back four in any of his six Premier League matches, and we asked if this lack of continuity is a concern for you.

Here are some of your comments:

Tony: Every successful team has a settled backline/defence. That is the one area of the team you should NEVER rotate every single game. The keeper and defenders need to build a solid understanding.

Stuart: One clean sheet in six league games is concerning, especially when you consider that we haven't played any 'top' teams in that time. Injuries aside, we need to pick our best team and stick with it. If some of our best players can't play two games a week then maybe they need to move on.

Kevin: The media is Rosenior's biggest problem, looking for reasons to criticise. Let him manage - critique can come at the end of the season. Next season is when he will show his abilities. Back off - let the dog see the rabbit.

Ash: It's a concern because we're coming into the business end of the season and having a consistent back four would (hopefully) provide more defensive stability and give Robert Sanchez more confidence knowing who's in front of him each week. At the same time, the training ground can only show you so much and if Liam doesn't know his best back four then it makes sense that he is changing it weekly.

Tom: Definitely a problem and one that Enzo Maresca was also guilty of. Too many changes made to the defence during the match too. Of course, it's not helped by having to manage the fitness of Reece James and Wesley Fofana... I guess it'll be the same when Levi Colwill comes back too so it won't change anytime soon. Of all the positions, these are the ones that need to be consistent.

Liam Rosenior has yet to pick an unchanged back four for a Chelsea league fixture.

Backers of such an approach would point to the fact the six games he has taken charge of in the Premier League do not contain a single defeat for the Blues.

But pundits Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards discussed the lack of continuity on Match of the Day on Saturday in the aftermath of Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Asked if a consistent back four is a good starting point for a manager, Rooney said: "Yes. Absolutely. It's happened all season. It was happening with the previous manager.

"Chelsea have that many players, to juggle players around, you don't know if there's pressure from above to do that. You just don't know who the leader is in there? The defenders are similar in how they play and I don't see a standout leader."

Richards offered: "He's still trying to find his best back four."

So, is this a concern? Or are there other issues creating problems for Rosenior?

Tell us

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Danny: Absolutely cringe worthy watching Chelsea. It's no coincidence that we've dropped points again at home. We have no divine right to beat Burnley, but with better finishing and an experienced manager at the helm, surely we would have got three points. Nothing yet has changed from the previous manager. Dodgy keeper, squad rotation, unsettled back four, unable to see out games. Disciplinary record and the choice of subs awful. The players are reasonably good. Unfortunately, it looks like Liam Rosenior is a puppet to high management and when we don't win anything and finish sixth, the next one will come through the door. Doing my head in. Most of the people that sit round me don't go any more. They sell the tickets to tourists. This is the new Chelsea! Year of the horse shirts for sale in the megastore!

Jarvis: A display of everything that is wrong with Chelsea. Fully expect Cole Palmer to be gone in the summer. Woeful.

Alan: Wesley Fofana's sheer stupidity has cost Chelsea two points. Saying that, the whole team performance was, once again, nowhere near good enough. No top five finish, no Champions League - forget it, Chelsea.

David: I have been a Chelsea fan for 40 years. The team is full of average players - because the cost of the players they assume they are good. The new regime is happy with keeping in Europe but not interested in winning. Average team with very average manager.

Burnley fans

Rickers: Draws against Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and now Chelsea show that this team can compete. Sadly, results against other teams have not been good enough across the season. Still, we keep going!

Alan: The positive is the point. The negatives is an inexhaustible list. Schoolboy defending. Constantly giving what little ball they had away in dangerous areas of the pitch. No physicality until Ashley Barnes, when it took two Chelsea defenders to mark him, leaving space for other Burnley players in the box. I am at a complete loss as to the tactics Burnley try to deploy at the start of games, as any plan instantly degenerates into headless chicken mode. Please get people in with the capability of instilling into the players the basics of facing forward and playing in the opposition half, rather than running back towards their own goal in desperation.

Vincent: This team are working very hard for Scot Parker. Unexpected draws against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, beating Crystal Palace away - if we're going down, we go down fighting. I think we need to hang on to Parker. He doesn't deserve boos. And never boo your own team!

David: Parker seems to be lost and devoid of ideas. It's time for the return of the king... bring back Sean Dyche!

Chelsea and Arsenal are pushing Barcelona hard in the chase for Atletico Madrid's 26-year-old Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea, meanwhile, could allow defender Trevoh Chalobah to join Aston Villa this summer if the Blues can sign a replacement. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Chelsea have equalled their highest number of red cards in a single Premier League season, matching the 2007‑08 campaign - but with 11 games still to play.

Only away at Nottingham Forest have Chelsea claimed all three points after going down to 10 men, holding on following an 87th‑minute dismissal.

Defeats against Manchester United, Brighton and Fulham can largely be attributed to red cards earlier in those matches, while Chelsea rallied well after Moises Caicedo was sent off in the home draw with Arsenal in November.

The pattern is clear - Chelsea are suffering because of their lack of discipline. They are also a team accustomed to collecting yellow cards.

They sit bottom of the Fair Play table with 86 points, having received 60 yellow cards this season. They were second-bottom last season and bottom the season before.

It is hard not to link the disciplinary record to the age profile of the squad. Chelsea have not fielded a player over the age of 28 all season and have the youngest squad in the Premier League - a profile deliberately built by the club's hierarchy.

However, Rosenior does not subscribe to youth being the main problem.

"I think youth is one thing, accountability is another," he said. "I'm accountable. I'm the head coach, I'm the manager of the team. I'm responsible for every result and every performance we have. We need players you can rely on in the moment to do their job.

"I know what we need to get there. It's not down to youth, it's down to assessing the players and identifying the ones you can rely on in difficult moments."

Rosenior also refused to single out Wesley Fofana and pointed out that the majority of red cards this season came before his appointment. Maresca himself was sent off for celebrating a last‑minute winner against Liverpool.

"Our discipline since I've come in - which is what I can speak about - has been very good," added Rosenior.

Read more Chelsea analysis

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 1-1 Burnley

• Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds

• West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth

Chris Wise
Final Score reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

It's always quite interesting sitting in on a Liam Rosenior press conference.

He's always firm and fair in his assessment of Chelsea's performances. But one thing he won't do is talk about anything that has happened at the club under a previous regime.

The Wesley Fofana sending-off was Chelsea's eighth red card this season, though the others all pre-date Rosenior's arrival. But it's been a fundamental problem in Chelsea's campaign - it was the reason they didn't beat Burnley and it has been the reason they've not picked up points in other games too.

From a position of prominence, albeit without ruthlessness, Chelsea suddenly lost their way and felt like they had to protect what they had. And they didn't do a good job of that.

Rosenior had four centre-backs on the pitch at the end of the game to try to nullify Burnley's aerial ability and it still didn't work. That's the other Achilles heel in this Chelsea season. Set-pieces.

Red cards and set-pieces.

But again, they are problems that existed long before Rosenior arrived.

He made a headline-grabbing comment in his press conference when he said Chelsea had "set fire to four points in their past two home games". He's not wrong.

And the draw with Burnley was more proof that there's a few more fires to put out before Chelsea can become a title contender again.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior speaking to BBC Sport: "We should have won the game. We should have been more ruthless. There was a lack of penetration in the first half, second half we had more moments without the right final pass or finish."

On Chelsea's latest red card this season: "I can only speak on my time with the group so far. Up until today our disciplinary record has been good. It is something for me to solve but I thought it was an unfortunate red card. Even so, you have to see the game out.

"The best teams put the opposition to bed. The best teams are ruthless when they have the upper-hand. If you are not ruthless you have to keep a clean sheet. There are not enough clean sheets.

"The four points we have dropped in our last two games shouldn't have happened. We still should win this game and that is something I need to address very quickly."

Did you know?

• Chelsea have had eight players sent off in all competitions this season (excluding the Club World Cup), the most by a Premier League side since West Ham had nine players sent off in 2015-16.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The sheer number of red cards has left much of the conversation around Chelsea focused on indiscipline, and Zian Flemming's goal only underlined how it is undermining their season.

Chelsea have won only once after going down to 10 men this campaign - following an 87th‑minute dismissal at Nottingham Forest - and have lost or drawn the other five league matches in which they have had a player sent off.

The pattern is clear - Chelsea are suffering because of their lack of discipline. They are also a team accustomed to collecting yellow cards.

They sit bottom of the Fair Play table with 86 points, having received 60 yellow cards this season. They were second-bottom last season and bottom the season before.

It is hard not to link the disciplinary record to the age of the squad. Chelsea have not fielded a player over 28 all season and have the youngest squad in the Premier League - a profile deliberately built by the club's hierarchy.

Yet Chelsea do have quality and could point to positives from the 72 minutes before Wesley Fofana's second yellow card, which will rule him out of the upcoming trip to league leaders Arsenal.

Most notably, in‑form striker Joao Pedro scored his fifth league goal in six matches and is the leading scorer across Liam Rosenior's first 11 games in charge.

But while the Brazilian's form since his £55m move from Brighton has been a bright spot, it was once again a familiar story for Chelsea as indiscipline dominated the agenda.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea are without Estevao Willian and Marc Cucurella for Saturday's afternoon kick-off.

Pedro Neto and Reece James come into the side, among three changes from their last Premier League outing — a 2-2 draw with Leeds at Stamford Bridge 10 days ago.

The other change sees Josh Acheampong drop to the bench, with Wesley Fofana replacing him in defence.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro

Subs: Slonina, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Hato, Lavia, Garnacho, Delap, Guiu

Burnley are unchanged from their 3-2 comeback win away at Crystal Palace in their last Premier League match.

Former Chelsea duo Bashir Humphreys and Lesley Ugochukwu both start, but Armando Broja is not fit to begin.

January signing James Ward‑Prowse is among the substitutes.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Laurent, Esteve, Worrell, Walker, Ugochukwu, Hannibal, Humphreys, Edwards, Anthony, Flemming

Subs: Weiss, Pires, Ekdal, Hartman, Florentino, Ward-Prowse, Tchaona, Bruun Larsen, Barnes

Image source, BBC Sport

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Brentford v Brighton

• Chelsea v Burnley - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• West Ham v Bournemouth (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Newcastle (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to Aston Villa v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Bournemouth", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Liam Rosenior's 100% record as Chelsea head coach may have come to an end last week, but his side's excellent league form since he took charge is indisputable and they will be big favourites to return to winning ways when struggling Burnley visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Four wins and a draw under the Englishman have propelled them from eighth in the table to fifth, with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro contributing nine of the Blues' 13 goals in those five games.

Blues know the score

Both players were on the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw with Leeds United on 10 February, the 24th league game in which the west London side have found the net this term. No team has scored in more individual games.

But while goals haven't been a problem under Rosenior or his predecessor Enzo Maresca, holding on to a lead has, especially at Stamford Bridge. No top-flight club has dropped more points from a winning position at home this season than Chelsea.

The Blues boast a more than favourable record against Burnley - they've lost just one of their 19 Premier League encounters, winning 13 of them.

Having lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland and 3-1 away at Leeds this term, Chelsea will want to avoid an unwanted first – they've never lost to all three promoted sides in a single league campaign before.

Parker on the precipice?

Any optimism Burnley fans gleaned from their remarkable comeback victory over Crystal Palace last week – a first league win in 17 games – was quickly extinguished when their side were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage by Mansfield Town of League One.

With Burnley 19th in the table, nine points adrift of safety, head coach Scott Parker's position has come under increasing scrutiny and the league's worst defence – with 51 goals conceded – will surely be tested again against a free-scoring Chelsea side.

Jaidon Anthony's leveller against Palace, his sixth league goal of the campaign, made him the Clarets' top scorer this season and indeed the former Bournemouth forward leads the way for the Clarets in several attacking metrics.

Worryingly, ahead of a second successive Premier League trip to London, Burnley have conceded at least twice in each of their last eight top-flight away games in the capital.

In fact, the east Lancashire side haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 23 league away games in England's top tier, since a 2-0 win at Fulham in December 2023. It's the longest run by a side in the competition since Aston Villa's 26-game stint between February 2016 and July 2020.

So much for me thinking that Burnley might give their fans something to cheer about by going on a good FA Cup run.

After their brilliant fightback to beat Crystal Palace in their last league game, the Clarets made changes against Mansfield and went out on their own patch to a League One side.

I just can't see anything other than a home win for Chelsea here, even with their wobble last time at Stamford Bridge where Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 - Liam Rosenior's side won't let that happen again.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

You can listen to BBC Radio Lancashire's commentary on Saturday's game on 95.5FM, DAB & Freeview 712 with Gary Hunt & Glen Little.

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia played 45 minutes for the Under‑21s as they hosted Leeds at the club's training ground on Friday afternoon.

The 22‑year‑old made his first appearance in the 2-2 draw having suffered a quadriceps injury during the Champions League match away to Qarabag in early November.

It was the latest setback in what has been an injury‑hit spell at Stamford Bridge following his £54m move from Southampton in 2023.

Lavia has still yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Chelsea, having made just 30 appearances in two and a half years and missing 98 matches across 603 days since joining the club.

Head coach Liam Rosenior revealed Lavia has been back in training over recent weeks while following a "detailed plan" aimed at ensuring he returns "for good". However, Rosenior has declined to give a timeframe for when the midfielder will be available for first‑team selection.

Chelsea's youth team went top of the Premier League 2 table despite surrendering a two‑goal lead, with Liam Rosenior and several first‑team players — including Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Malo Gusto — watching from the sidelines.