Gary Neville Podcast: Chelsea have potential but Reece James and Ben Chilwell

Chelsea showed they have “a lot of potential” in coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Liverpool on Sunday, Gary Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast; Blues were playing first game under Mauricio Pochettino; manager played down fears of an injury to Reece James

Chelsea’s performance in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday shows they have “a lot of potential”, says Gary Neville – adding that Mauricio Pochettino is the right manager to nurture that talent.

However, Neville warned that injuries to newly-appointed captain Reece James or vice-captain Ben Chilwell would “destroy” the manager’s plans should they occur.

The pair lined up as wing-backs at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool, helping Chelsea to come from behind to claim a point in Pochettino’s first game in charge.

Both James and Chilwell were substituted in the second half, although Pochettino explained the replacement of his captain was down to fatigue rather than injury.

After commentating on events in west London for Sky Sports, Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast that he was impressed by what he saw.

‘James, Chilwell injuries would destroy Poch plans’

“There’s a lot to work with, a lot of potential, and I think they’ve got the right coach to turn that potential into high-quality performances.

“What we’ve seen [on Sunday] is that Chelsea have fantastic wing-backs but they’ve both gone off, first game of the season.

“That will destroy Pochettino’s plans. If you’re going to play wing-backs, they have to be outstanding players of high quality, who attack like wingers and defend like full-backs, and they have that.

“But the big question mark is if those two can stay fit. Those wing-backs are crucial and if they lose them the whole thing could fall apart a little.”

‘Lots to look forward to at Chelsea’

“I was a bit worried about Chelsea in the first half hour. It was a change of system that came out of the blue.

“They grew in the game and that wasn’t there at the end of last season – they were disgraceful at times. They threw in the towel.

“They were persistent and kept going [on Sunday], epitomised by the two midfielders. (Enzo) Fernandez and (Conor) Gallagher started to…