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Chelsea will NOT win the Premier League with this player in their team - Graeme Souness
CHELSEA will not win the Premier League title with Olivier Giroud in their team, claims Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness.
Chelsea maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season this afternoon with a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United.
A brace from Anthony Martial turned the game on its head after Antonio Rudiger’s first-half opener, but Ross Barkley struck deep into stoppage time to win a point for the Blues.
The draw sent Chelsea to the top of the table ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Burnley this afternoon.
After the match, Liverpool legend Souness was asked his thoughts on Chelsea’s title hopes this term.
You will not win the league with a centre-forward who’s just good at assists
And he claims they are a goalscoring striker away from being serious contenders.
“I think they’re going to be a near miss,” Souness said.
“I think they’ve got (Eden) Hazard, who’s the best player in the Premier League in most people’s eyes, and if you nullify him then you take so much of their threat away.
“Right now you’re sitting with (Alvaro) Morata on two goals, Pedro on three goals, Barkley two.
“To win this league you’ve got to have four or five players chipping in with lots of goals.
“I think they’re a near miss, I think they’re one player away.”
Souness’ colleague Jamie Redknapp claimed Olivier Giroud was key to Chelsea’s chances with his hold-up play and link with star man Hazard.
However, Giroud is yet to find the net this season and Souness says that is a big problem.
“You will not win the league with a centre-forward who’s just good at assists,” Souness said of the Frenchman.
“I think the centre-forward has got to get, for me, 20+ goals.
“In a team like that where you’re creating a hell of a lot, you’re playing in the opposition’s last third a hell of a lot, you’re dominating the ball a hell of a lot.
“For me, I don’t see it. I’m not saying he won’t get goals, I don’t think he will get enough goals.”
Chelsea's next match is in the Europa League where they host BATE Borisov next Thursday, before a trip to Burnley three days later.