Phil Neville believes Chelsea will find it hard to make the top four this season unless Eden Hazard scores 40 goals for the club.

Speaking on Match of the Day 2 after the Blues’ 0-0 draw with West Ham yesterday, the former Manchester United and Everton defender said:

“When you think about Liverpool last year with Salah, who scored 40 odd goals Hazard will have to score 40 goals this year for Chelsea to get close to challenging for the league. If he doesn’t then they’ll struggle to get into the top four.”

Chelsea had won every Premier League match until they dropped points against the Hammers, with their London rivals having defended in numbers in order to secure a point.

Hazard has had an excellent start to the season, with five goals and two assists in six games, but the Belgian didn’t make the most of his chances at the London Stadium.

On a couple of occasions, he decided to pass to striker Alvaro Morata rather than attempt to score himself, and it seems Neville believes that the 27-year-old will need to find a more ruthless streak in front of goal to help the Blues challenge this campaign.

Maurizio Sarri’s side are still third in the table so it is surprising that the England Women’s manager would question their top four credentials.