Rosenior Laments Chelsea's Misfortune, But There's More to the Story

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column where Adam Bate combines data and opinion to reflect on key Premier League stories. This week, Liam Rosenior's Chelsea is struggling, having dropped to ninth in the Premier League table under his management. A four-game losing streak, including three consecutive home defeats, has raised concerns. Rosenior attributes the loss to Manchester United to bad luck, citing Chelsea's dominance and numerous missed opportunities. However, statistics show that Chelsea's finishing has been poor, with the team failing to score despite having the most shots since mid-March. This trend is alarming, especially when compared to other teams like Manchester United, whose player Matheus Cunha has consistently overperformed his expected goals. In contrast, Chelsea's attacking players have underperformed, raising questions about the team's personnel and style of play. Meanwhile, Liverpool's Florian Wirtz has struggled to make an impact, despite creating numerous chances. His lack of assertiveness and failure to retain possession have been noticeable, and he has yet to show the confidence and risk-taking expected of him. Newcastle, on the other hand, is still playing with intensity but is leaving gaps in their defense, which has become a problem. Their expected goals against have worsened since January, making them one of the leakiest defenses in the league. The team's home form is also alarming, with five losses in their last six Premier League games at St James' Park. As a result, manager Eddie Howe is under scrutiny, and his selection decisions and role in recruitment are being questioned.