Chelsea are about to do what nobody expected but it comes at a cost for Enzo Maresca

A lot has been said about Enzo Maresca in recent weeks. The Chelsea head coach has not yet endeared himself to the club's fan base with results since the turn of the year seeing the Blues drop off massively.

On matchday 17, travelled to Goodison Park - for the last time ever - with the opportunity to climb above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. It would see the Blues at the summit of the division over the Christmas period. Even with Chelsea being that good in the opening 16 matches of the campaign, there was still an enormous amount of trepidation - and that feeling was proven right.

Chelsea were held to a goalless draw on Merseyside and it proved to be a huge turning point in their season. Before the trip to Liverpool, Chelsea had won 10 of their opening 16 league matches, drawing four and losing just twice. Since the draw on December 22, the Blues have been victorious in just six out of their 16 Premier League games, while losing the same amount and drawing four times.

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Such form has seen 's side drop down to sixth in the top-flight table and they now face a difficult challenge to finish in the top five - which is enough to qualify for the Champions League this season. Maresca is absolutely certain there has been progress on the pitch from a Chelsea point of view this term and while some supporters find it difficult to believe given they are in the same position as they finished under , the numbers do back it up.

At the end of last season, Chelsea finished with 58 in the 'goals against' column, while this term, albeit with five league games of the campaign left to play, they have conceded 18 fewer. However, unless the Blues can score 17 or more goals in around 450 minutes of football, then they will be finishing the season with fewer goals scored.

Their attack has been below par, especially in the second half of the season. The form of and has done nothing to help that, with the duo on a 16 and 12-match goal drought, respectively. In quite painful reading from a Chelsea perspective, , a left-back, is the club's top goalscorer in 2025.

Cucurella has netted on four occasions in the Premier League since the turn of the year - a total that should be no way near enough to lead the scoring charts. Yet it is enough, with Palmer, , and all on two goals.

Somehow Maresca needs to find a way to get both Palmer and Jackson firing again. Combined, the Blues duo have scored 23 times in the Premier League this season - a figure that accounts for around 40% of the side's total goals in the competitions. When asked last week if Chelsea can qualify for the Champions League if Palmer and Jackson continue to struggle in front of goal, Maresca simply replied: "No."

, saying: "[I'm] confident [they will start to score again] because they scored goals. It's just a moment that they need to turn a little bit that moment.

"But I said before, Cole scored 14 goals in 20 Premier League games. So he has scored goals. Nico was the same before the injury. Now, unfortunately, Nico was out for two months, so probably physicality needs a little bit more. And this is the same for Cole."