Chelsea news: Alvaro Morata STILL giving Maurizio Sarri issues despite good form – pundit

That’s the view of Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who believes the Blues require a proven goalscorer.

Chelsea are unbeaten this season, sitting second in the Premier League table just two points behind Manchester City.

Morata has scored in three of Chelsea’s last four league fixtures, bagging a brace in last week’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

It comes despite netting just once in the first seven games of the season.

The Spaniard wasn’t in the squad that beat BATE Borisov in the Europa League in midweek, Olivier Giroud netting the only goal of the game.

But Merson believes Sarri still needs someone more reliable in front of goal.

“Chelsea put out a strong team at BATE Borisov, perhaps it was too strong,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“I understand Eden Hazard needs the minutes but surely you’d rather him have them against Everton rather than travelling all the way to Belarus.

“Chelsea have a decent squad and will be there or thereabouts this season, but they still need a proper goalscorer.

“You only need to look at Alvaro Morata’s late chance against Palace.

“Yes, the game was won, but Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, Harry Kane and the like would have sealed their hat-trick instead of trying to chip the goalkeeper, got the ball signed by everyone and then gone home!”

Chelsea first-team coach Gianfranco Zola believes the Chelsea strikers will keep improving.

“You probably expect the main strikers to be the main scorers but sometimes that’s not the case, especially if you play differently,” he said.

“Sarri asks the strikers to do a lot of work for the team, and even if they don’t score, they are very important for the team.

“I think they are learning about this. At the moment they are busy doing this and have less attention for scoring.

“But it will come. I’m 100 per cent it will come. Also they have a good attitude on the pitch and in the week.”