Alan Shearer Exclusive: Chelsea are just a few bad results away from changing their manager

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·30 décembre 2025

Alan Shearer Exclusive: Chelsea are just a few bad results away from changing their manager

Alan Shearer

Shearer says Enzo Maresca has put pressure on himself at Chelsea

Vidéos OneFootball

In his latest Betfair exclusive Alan Shearer discusses Chelsea' inconsistent form, Newcastle away from home, Aston Villa's title credentials, Liverpool and more including his top tips for 2026 and his Premier League team of the year...

Maresca has put pressure on himslef at Chelsea
Three points are a must for Newcastle at Burnley
Villa are in the title race but I can't see them winning it
Get Alan's top tips for 2026 plus his team of the season so far

Chelsea are only a result or two away from a new manager

I think Enze Maresca's quotes have added pressure on him. As I've said before it's a very different club to any other in terms of how they want to run and compete, buying young to develop and sell. It's very different.

You always get the feeling with Chelsea they're only a result or two away from getting a new coach or manager. That's the way it feels and probably is. As a manager going in there, you know the rules. I don't know his reasons - maybe he got out of it what he wanted or was trying to prove a point - but he did add unneeded pressure with what he said.

Ramsey and Elanga haven't delivered on their promise

When the team sheets came through, Newcastle are thinking there's never going to be a better time to play Man United at Old Trafford. I thought they defended well United. Ayden Heaven was really good, and Amorim's system helped them.

But from a Newcastle point of view, when you have that much of the ball and put that many crosses in, you have to look and think, "What are we doing wrong?" Two or three really good balls are nowhere near enough from 46 crosses. Why aren't people getting on the end of them? Is the positional sense wrong? Is the desire not there? They've got six points away from home this year, which tells you there's a big problem.

They spent a hundred million on Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga, who haven't shown anywhere near that yet. Ramsey is in at the minute, but those two haven't delivered. Woltemade is very different, and Wissa has been injured. Recruitment-wise, the money they spent hasn't seen returns yet, particularly from Ramsey and Elanga.

It's a huge game for Newcastle on Tuesday because of Burnley's poor record. It's a banana skin for Newcastle. Only one win might give Burnley a glimmer of hope. If Newcastle are looking for an away game, you think Wolves or Burnley. Their next four games are big. The noise will get louder if they don't get three points at Burnley.

Aston Villa are in the title race but they won't win the league

When Villa looked at the fixtures, they were thinking, "That's a tough schedule, two away games over Christmas." Yet they go into the Arsenal game on the back of a great win at Chelsea. They only played well for 25 minutes; Chelsea dominated for an hour. But the changes Unai Emery made worked to perfection.

He brought Onana, Sancho, and Watkins on, and all three played a huge part, particularly Watkins with his two goals. Villa were a changed team in the last 25 minutes. It just flipped remarkably.

Ollie Watkins only scored three goals before the game on the 27th, so it wasn't as if he was blowing the league away. When that happens, he's a goal scorer, but he does add a different dimension to this Villa side. The shape Villa played in the last half-hour suited them more than the first hour.

That's five league goals for the season now. You'd think a team pushing City and Arsenal would have a centre-forward with more goals. He might have been left out with the Arsenal game in mind because he has a great record against them. My guess is he'll start at Arsenal.

You have to say that they're in the title race. Do I think they'll do it? No, I think they'll run out of steam with the size of their squad. But it doesn't take anything away from the miraculous job Unai Emery is doing. The Villa players are responding to an incredible manager.

Semenyo would be a brilliant addition for City

There's no doubt Antoine Semenyo has got great talent. He's had a great last six months at Bournemouth and started right from the off with that game at Liverpool. You must be doing something right when City, Liverpool, and Chelsea are after you. It's another option for City alongside Savinho, Doku, and Foden if he does go there. Pep seems to find a way to fit them in, so he'll be a great addition for the title race.

It would take a brave man to say anything but that it will work out to be a great move for him, with Pep and his record. He's going to a hugely successful club with one of the best managers we've ever seen.

Liverpool are a long way from being back to their best

There are definitely improvements from Liverpool. Florian Wirtz is showing signs with his first goal that he is coming good. Ekitike and Wirtz's understanding was good as well which is a big positive for Liverpool.

There are signs they're improving but looking at the goal, they conceded, and the pressure Wolves put them under, it's still very uncertain and nervy.

There's no way I would say Liverpool are back. There are signs, but still a long way to go to reach last season's heights. It's a really strange league this year. Only the top three have been consistent.

Alan gives his footballing predictions for 2026

Who wins the Premier League title?

I said Arsenal if they got a centre-forward and they did. I also said Liverpool, but I'm not going away from Arsenal. They will have nervy moments, and Man City chasing them isn't ideal, but I'm going to stick with Arsenal.

Which three teams will be relegated from the Premier League?

Wolves are down and Burnley will go with them. There's nothing that convinces me West Ham will stay up. At least Leeds have Calvert-Lewin in form. Bournemouth could get dragged into it. Fulham have won three on the spin and are in the top half. I don't see that with West Ham; they're still adrift and I fancy them to get relegated this season