Right now, Enzo Maresca and his Chelsea players are where they want to be in the Premier League table.
Chelsea remain in fifth place following their 3-1 win against Liverpool last weekend, meaning that they are on course to qualify for the Champions League.
However, Alan Shearer has suggested that they could actually be higher in the table after something he saw in their latest victory at Stamford Bridge.
Since then, Shearer has also spoken about Cole Palmer, praising the attacking midfielder for his honesty in his post-match interview.
Alan Shearer suggests Chelsea would be higher if Romeo Lavia had stayed fit
One reason why Chelsea were able to beat Liverpool was because of Romeo Lavia‘s impact in midfield.
Lavia was a 9/10 on the afternoon, and Shearer has now implied that the Blues’ season would have gone much better had the 21-year-old stayed injury-free.
After including him in his latest Premier League Team of the Week, Shearer said: “He controlled the midfield superbly against Liverpool and showed his class on the ball. It makes you wonder where Chelsea would be if the Belgian had been available all season.”
Lavia has only been able to make 10 starts in the Premier League this season, but it is a vast improvement compared to last term.
During the 2023/24 campaign, the Belgian did not start a single game at all and only managed to make a sole appearance.
Hopefully Lavia can now play the entire 2025/26 season, and if he does, then Chelsea are likely to be a way more consistent team based on what they have shown with him in the side.
Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez join Romeo Lavia in Team of the Week
In Shearer’s Team of the Week selection, there was also room for Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.
Both players managed to find the back of the net against Liverpool, with Fernandez’s goal coming in the third minute.
On Fernandez, Shearer said: “Relishing his role as captain this season, Fernandez opened the scoring against the newly-crowned champions and was impressive throughout.”
As for Palmer, the Newcastle United legend stated: “Looked back to his very best. Kept his cool to score from the spot and wrap up a memorable win.”
All in all, Palmer and Fernandez have been two of Chelsea’s most important players this season and showed their worth against the Premier League champions last Sunday.
