Paul Merson has expressed concern over Chelsea's shaky defence as they struggle at the start of the season. The former Arsenal star insists that Xabi Alonso must quickly identify his best defence, including which formation to adopt.
After four matches in the Premier League, Chelsea have yet to keep a clean sheet. In their latest outing, Alonso's side dropped points at home against newly-promoted Hull City, ending in a 2-2 draw.
Merson stated:
"His problem is that after four league games and two cup matches, he still doesn’t know what his best backline is. He’s unsure whether to use three, four, or five defenders.
This is a worrying sign, and he needs to sort it out soon."
Maxence Lacroix remained on the bench against Hull and only came on towards the end. If Alonso is keen on playing with three centre-backs, he needs to find a stable trio.
It’s essential to select these three and give them four or five matches together."
Merson urged Alonso to expedite the search for his optimal defensive setup to prevent ongoing issues from plaguing the squad during the first half of the season:
"Stability is key. Chelsea can’t approach December still debating whether Alonso knows his best trio or quartet of defenders.
This is genuinely concerning, and they must resolve it soon."
After four matches, Chelsea currently sit in fourth place, trailing league leaders Arsenal and Manchester City by five points. Their next test comes against Brentford.
