Gary Neville has slammed ’s inability to score goals following the goalless draw with Liverpool on Tuesday night.
In their first game since sacking , the Blues far outplayed the Reds at Stamford Bridge but continued to be plagued by a lack of clinicalness, with just three of their 12 shots on target.
Mateo Kovacic failed to convert two great chances, but it was who most notably squandered multiple opportunities to break the deadlock.
The German forward’s first opportunity came within the opening few minutes when he attempted to volley home after Alisson denied but his connection was all wrong.
Later, he hit a close range shot straight at the keeper after Ben Chilwell had done well to find him with a low cross, before screwing woefully wide after being brilliantly played in by N’Golo Kante.
That latter effort drew strong criticism from Neville, who said on Sky Sports: ‘It was a difficult chance but he had a long time to set himself and it was an uncomfortable watch to see him put it across the goal like that.’
Havertz thought he had scored early in the second-half when he found himself one on one with Alisson but he shot straight at the Liverpool shot-stopper, though the ball rebounded off him and into the back of the net.
But the ball had clearly ricocheted off his arm and VAR promptly ruled it out, with Neville commenting: ‘Havertz needed to score first time. He didn’t do anything right – he just ran straight at Alisson.’
A lack of goals and goalscorers has hurt Chelsea badly this season and cost them all three points against Liverpool, with Neville adding: ‘Chelsea were by far the better team.
‘It’s a well told story that they are struggling badly and don’t have a centre-forward. What a mess it is for Chelsea in that area of the pitch.
‘They don’t have anyone on the pitch who thinks it’s their job to score goals – and it’s costing them.’
Chelsea have scored just 29 goals in as many games this season – which ranks 13th in the Premier League – with Havertz their top goalscorer with just seven to his name.
The result has left the Blues 11th in the table with their next game at Wolves on Saturday.
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