Jamie Carragher has expressed his shock at the timing of Graham Potter's sacking as Chelsea manager ahead of their clash against Liverpool but insists he isn't surprised.
The 47-year-old was relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge after just six months in charge on Sunday night. Their decision came exactly 48 hours before the Reds were due to step out against the west Londoners.
Potter was replaced by Bruno Saltor, former Brighton & Hove Albion full-back who the former Seagulls boss brought to the capital after being headhunted. His final game for the Londoners came after they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa which saw them slip into the bottom half of the Premier League table at the expense of Unai Emery's side.
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He became the 12th managerial sacking of the campaign and the second manager to be dismissed in SW6 this season after Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September and subsequently replaced by the Englishman.
Carragher admitted there is an element of shock at the timing of his exit but conceded that time was limited under the new Chelsea board.
"Yes [surprised] in that there's a game tomorrow against Liverpool. But surprised me in terms of Chelsea sacking Graham Potter, I thought it would be inevitable between now and the end of the season - at some stage," he said speaking ahead of Monday Night Football.
"I thought he may have got until the Champions League game, I think that would've been fairer considering when you look at what he's done, getting them out of the group stage, beat Borussia Dortmund. I thought he'd get the chance to go up against Real Madrid.
"But no, I never felt it was the right fit to me and not surprised."
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