Chelsea's Narrow Defeat: How £54m Winger Could Have Made the Difference

Enzo Maresca has made wise choices so far in his managerial career with Chelsea. But one obvious mistake stands out after the Blues’ narrow 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield: Pedro Neto ought to have started the match.

Liverpool was able to defeat Chelsea in an a heated match and take back the first position in the Premier League table. Chelsea was disappointed because, despite dedication and chances created, they were unable to convert their several chances into important goals.

The substitution of Neto for Jadon Sancho at halftime started a great change in Chelsea’s play. With three goal-scoring opportunities—more than any other player in the match—Neto made a major impact during his forty-five minutes on the field. His attacking style and spirited involvement gave Chelsea’s attack a boost and showed what the team had been lacking all along.

Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard praised Neto’s performance, stating, “Pedro Neto came on and added a lot. He has probably pushed himself into a big chance of starting the next game. I think he should.” This comment indicates how important Neto’s contributions were in the second half, as he created many chances and continuously attacked Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s right-back.

🗣️ Frank Lampard: “Pedro Neto came on and added a lot, he has probably pushed himself into a big chance of starting the next game. I think he should.”

{PL TV} pic.twitter.com/BvNgliMGXn

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) October 21, 2024

The game changed when Neto was brought on. Although Sancho had some success against Alexander-Arnold, it was Neto who constantly frustrated him, and Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, changed tactics replacing Joe Gomez to strengthen their defense. This change was evidence of how dangerous Neto was and how important it would have been to have him start the game.

Neto’s influence extends beyond Alexander-Arnold. Later in the second half, when Christopher Nkunku came on, Neto swapped sides and started to take advantage of the opposite flank, which caused Andy Robertson, Liverpool’s left-back, to have difficulty. if he had start Earlier in the game, his speed and creativity might have given Chelsea the decisive advantage they desperately needed. He was an essential part of Chelsea’s attacking moves, so it’s a shame he didn’t record an assist while he was on the field.

Although Neto has only started two Premier League games for Chelsea since joining from Wolves in the summer, he has already demonstrated the potential to be an important member of the team. His last start was against Bournemouth, where he was replaced by Sancho, who was making his debut, at halftime. The Portugal international’s performance against Liverpool presented a strong argument for him to start, despite Sancho being favorite over Neto ever since that game.

Chelsea needs depth and variety in the squad now more than ever because of their congested calendar in the upcoming weeks, which includes games in the Premier League and Conference League. Chelsea’s next games include a Conference League trip to Athens to play Panathinaikos, a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge against Newcastle United, and a Carabao Cup match against Newcastle soon after.

With this busy schedules, Enzo Maresca will have to make good use of his squad. With his performance against Liverpool, Neto demonstrated his ability to be a game-changer and proved his worthiness of more starting opportunities. Given Maresca’s previous statements that he sees Neto as a right-sided player, he might either start on the right wing or substitute for Noni Madueke.

It is impossible to underestimate Pedro Neto’s impact on games. He has demonstrated the ability to improve Chelsea’s attack with his creativity and speed, two attributes that are important as the squad moves through a hectic schedule of games. In order to make sure Chelsea optimizes their attacking potential in the upcoming games, Maresca needs to take into account Neto’s impressive performance against Liverpool and make the required changes. Both Sancho and Neto will undoubtedly have important roles to play in the busy calendar that lies ahead, and it may be time for Maresca to give Neto the starting chance that he so richly deserves.