In his most recent column, former England midfielder Paul Merson weighs in on the precarious situation surrounding Liam Rosenior’s tenure at Chelsea after the Blues suffered a crushing 3-0 loss to Brighton at the Amex Stadium. The defeat has extended Chelsea’s dreadful run of form to five consecutive league losses, a streak that also marks the first time in more than a century that the club has failed to find the net in five straight Premier League matches. The reigning World Champions now sit seventh in the table, trailing fifth‑placed Liverpool by seven points despite Liverpool having a game in hand. Chelsea’s seventh‑place position is currently held only because of a superior goal‑difference; both Brentford and Bournemouth sit on the same points total and also possess a game in hand.
With another league fixture looming and an FA Cup semi‑final against Leeds United scheduled for the weekend, the Blues could easily slip into the bottom half of the table if they do not arrest the slide. Merson, a lifelong Chelsea supporter who first attended a match at the age of six, uses his personal history to underline how rare this level of under‑performance is for the club. "I have backed Chelsea for 52 years and have seen the highs and the lows, but I have never witnessed a side that simply does not try," he writes.
He contrasts Chelsea’s display with that of Arsenal, who, despite losing to Manchester City, created chances and gave their opponents a fight. By comparison, the Brighton game was, in Merson’s view, unacceptable for a team of Chelsea’s stature. He points out that Rosenior, a former professional player himself, must understand that the expectation at a club like Chelsea is absolute commitment. "You have to give 100 percent, run, work hard and show the determination to win," Merson says, recalling the first goal – a poorly timed header into the near post – as an embarrassment that should never have happened at Stamford Bridge.
The disappointment is amplified by the fact that the away end was full, yet the team delivered a performance that Merson describes as bordering on disgraceful. The columnist acknowledges that even the best players can have off‑days, but he stresses that a lack of effort is inexcusable.
He likens the Chelsea display to a hypothetical match where Manchester City face a lower‑league side such as Barnet, noting that even a modest opponent would be expected to produce at least one shot on target. "I have never seen so many players fail simultaneously," he adds, urging the squad to remember that they are paid £50‑70 million wages and must justify those figures with performances on the pitch. Merson also draws a parallel with Burnley, a club that, despite languishing near the foot of the table, never ceases to try. "Burnley lose week in, week out, but they never stop fighting," he says, emphasizing how stunned he remains by Chelsea’s lack of effort.
He predicts that Rosenior will be left questioning how his players could produce such a sub‑standard display, a sentiment he shares with many fans who feel "flabbergasted" by the result. Looking ahead, Merson speculates on Rosenior’s future. He suggests that the manager is aware, from his post‑match interview, that he is in serious danger and must consider his own position.
"He took the blame, defended his players, and it was clear he knows he is on thin ice," the former Blue writes. Merson doubts that Chelsea would honour a full contract payout for Rosenior if he were to be dismissed, arguing that the club cannot afford to retain a manager with no top‑level experience who has not turned the tide. The columnist expresses sympathy for Rosenior, noting the painful reality of a manager whose squad does not run for him. He points out that many of the players are on long‑term contracts and were signed on the promise of delivering trophies.
Yet, according to Merson, the squad’s recent attitude suggests those promises are being broken. Merson also touches on the club’s transfer dealings. He mentions the summer signing of Alejandro Garnacho and doubts he will remain next season if the current trajectory continues.
He highlights Enzo Fernández’s reported desire to move to Real Madrid, questioning how Chelsea could sell a player bought for £100 million at a loss. He warns that offloading Fernández would likely require selling another high‑value asset such as Cole Palmer, which would further erode the club’s asset base without generating profit. In summary, Merson believes that Chelsea’s immediate priority is to win the upcoming FA Cup semi‑final against Leeds, but he warns that the underlying issues run deeper than a single match. He argues that the problem is not necessarily Rosenior’s tactical acumen but the players’ lack of commitment.
"If the squad does not play for the manager, no manager can succeed," he concludes. The columnist ends by noting that opposition teams will take note of Chelsea’s poor display, and that the club must act swiftly to restore credibility before the season spirals further out of control.