Chelsea fans are already starting to turn on Liam Delap. The expensive summer signing has performed in the worst possible way, doing nothing to justify his hefty price tag. Well, thankfully for Chelsea fans, they're about to watch more of him. Don't all cheer at once.
So far this season, Liam Delap has started nine Premier League games, coming off the bench a further six times. In those 15 league appearances, he's managed just one goal. That goal was the only goal Chelsea scored in a loss to Fulham, to make matters worse.
For lack of a better word, Liam Delap has been absent. He's been there, but he may as well have not been there, if that makes any sense.
Liam Delap playing on Chelsea's wing is a nightmare waiting to continue
For better or for worse, Liam Delap is bound to start more games for Chelsea in the not so distant future.
Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens, two fellow summer recruits, have been missing from action recently due to injuries. Gittens' injury appears more serious since it's a hamstring injury, but Neto's absence has also been felt.
With Liam Rosenior still not settled on his best attacking setup, these injuries are bound to open up more opportunities for Liam Delap to prove himself. Don't be too surprised if he makes more appearances from the wing, as poorly as that experiment went.
Against Arsenal, it was impossible to pin the loss on one player. Frankly, every Chelsea player was awful. However, Liam Delap playing on the wing was enough to make any fan cringe.
Liam Delap RW. We’ve seen enough. pic.twitter.com/h1D5zh3f3N
— Mod (@CFCMods) February 3, 2026
Unfortunately for those fans, we just might see that more often. Liam Delap was signed to play, and while it wasn't Rosenior who signed him, the new Chelsea boss has a self-inflicted obligation to give every player a chance. Delap stands more chance of making the team on the wing than he does through the center, and that's truly terrifying.
Liam Delap playing on the right wing is worse than any positional selection Maresca or Pochettino made
— Jamie (@JCollettCFC) February 3, 2026
It isn't the analysis that Chelsea fans wanted to hear, but it's unfortunately the truth. If he's going to play, which Rosenior has shown no signs of the contrary, then it's likelier to be out wide than centrally.
Rosenior, the self-proclaimed ager of men, is about to take it upon himself to age Liam Delap into a winger. Common sense hasn't been applied to Chelsea in an awfully long time, and unfortunately, that won't change anytime soon.
Enjoy the ride, folks.