Liverpool legend turned pundit Graeme Souness has delivered his verdict on the front three Frank Lampard chose to take on Manchester City on Saturday.
Lampard started Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner for the clash with City, which did not go to plan with Chelsea losing 3-1 after conceding all three goals before half-time.
But ahead of the game, pundit Souness gave his verdict on the trio, including Werner, who was handed the central role after spending much of this season out wide and Ziyech, who returned following around a month out with a knee injury.
“You pay big money for players for these games," he said on Sky Sports. "These are the games that decide if you’re gonna be a winner, or another team in and around you. We’ll see what they're made of.
"They need to be consistent performers at this level, they’ve arrived at a big football club, and have had big money paid for them. They need to turn up every game, especially the big games.
"They’ve got great players within the squad. Chelsea, great expectation this time around, finishing fourth last year, spending big money. I don’t think anyone questioned Werner coming in.
"Goals in Germany, quick. I wouldn’t say he’s a silky finisher, he’s not striking me as a clinical and silky finisher. He’s someone that’s going to get there a lot but he misses too many. Maybe this is just his first year, but he has to be a regular scorer against the big teams."
Worryingly for Chelsea, none of the players, including Werner, were able to turn up against Man City with substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring the only Blues goal, though it was at the back where the biggest problems appeared against Pep Guardiola's men.
The result leaves the Blues in eighth position and seven points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand still to play.
