Chelsea squad ‘as good as any in the Premier League’ after summer spree, says Jamie Carragher

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Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_8 December 2020

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea have as strong a squad as any of their Premier League title rivals after their summer spending spree.

Having been banned from making new signings last summer, Frank Lampard made up for lost time during the offseason as Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz all arrived for significant transfer fees as part of more than £200million of spending.

The Blues boss also added former PSG defender Thiago Silva on a free transfer and appears to have solved his goalkeeping crisis with the shrewd acquisition of Edouard Mendy from Rennes.

The positive impact has been seen almost immediately, with Chelsea sat third in the league table, just two points off the top, and unbeaten in nine since losing to defending champions Liverpool back in September.

"In these early stages of the season, it looks like they've recruited really well,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football programme.

"You can make an argument that it's as strong a squad as anyone in the Premier League.”

There are examples of the Blues’ depth all over the pitch. French striker Olivier Giroud had been out in the cold for much of the season but scored five goals in two games when called upon last week, while Lampard was able to call on arguably his player of the season last year, Christian Pulisic, as a substitute when Ziyech was forced off in the win over Leeds on Saturday.

Carragher added: ”You could maybe argue, or I think it's a fact, that Liverpool and Man City have a strong XI, but in terms of back-up players right now and other teams getting injuries - certainly Liverpool - that strength of squad is absolutely fantastic and it doesn't feel like the team would be weakened too much no matter who was playing.”

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