Frank Christian
Chelsea faced a 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in their latest Premier League match.
The team made a strong effort towards the end but ultimately left Merseyside without any points after goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones before and after halftime.
This loss marks Chelsea’s first league defeat since the season’s opening match, cutting short their positive momentum going into the October international break.
Many players did not perform up to expectations, with one standout frustration for coach Enzo Maresca: Jadon Sancho.
After a promising start with his new club following his late transfer from Manchester United, Sancho was substituted at halftime due to his underwhelming performance.
Interestingly, a fair number of Manchester United supporters were not shocked by his display.
Jadon Sancho’s Performance Against Liverpool
According to statistics from FotMob, Sancho did not register any shots in the first half and finished with an expected assists (xA) score of just 0.03, revealing that his attacking contributions were minimal. None of his passes reached the final third.
He tried three dribbles but did not succeed in any. He had a mere five touches in the opponent’s penalty area and lost all three of his physical battles, the lowest total between both teams, as Trent Alexander-Arnold effectively neutralized him.
Jadon Sancho’s first half stats:
– 0 successful dribbles
– 0 ground duels won
– 0 tackles won
– 0 shots
– 0 assists
– 0 goalsSubstituted at half time.
— SimplyUtd (@SimplyUtd) October 20, 2024
Jadon Sancho’s first half vs Liverpool:
– 0/3 successful dribbles
– 0/3 ground duels won
– 0 tackles wonQuite a performance! pic.twitter.com/zixmNP5pkj
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) October 20, 2024
Reactions from Manchester United Fans on Sancho
Manchester United fans showed little sympathy for Sancho’s uninspiring performance on social media, with many expressing that they were not surprised.
“Back to normal in a crucial match,” remarked one fan, while another joked: “A whole half of ineffective dribbling doesn’t surprise me.” Some fans pointed out that Chelsea managed to score during their first serious attack right after Sancho’s exit.
The Sancho discussions have started. It was bound to happen.
A complete half of unsuccessful dribbling is nothing new.
— Alex Turk (@AlexCTurk) October 20, 2024
Goals this season:
“Overrated” Garnacho – 5
“Free of United” Sancho – 0 pic.twitter.com/TQ29ZjtkXS— AB (@AbsoluteBruno) October 20, 2024
Was There a Penalty for Sancho Against Liverpool?
Some Chelsea supporters were eager to discuss a potential penalty for Sancho during the first half.
A clash with Alexander-Arnold in the box led Sancho to go down after contact with his right foot during a quick turn.
Despite the appeals, the referee did not award a penalty, and VAR deemed the initial decision appropriate, believing Sancho inadvertently initiated the contact.
Should Chelsea have received a penalty before Salah’s goal? pic.twitter.com/ivQLDhxffR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 20, 2024
Sancho’s Loan at Chelsea and Future Prospects
Sancho started the 2024/25 season with Chelsea on a loan from Manchester United. The agreement has an option for Chelsea to buy him at the season’s end.
A critical clause in the contract stipulates that if Chelsea secures a position in the top 14 of the Premier League, they must sign the winger permanently.
