According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday November 10, 2026, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has identified three defensive signings Chelsea need to make if they want to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

The former England captain believes the Blues must strengthen their defence by bringing in two world-class centre-backs and a top-quality left-back ahead of the January transfer window.

Chelsea have made progress this season following a disappointing previous campaign, but Gerrard believes they still lack the defensive quality required to challenge the Premier League's leading clubs consistently.

The Blues finished 10th in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League. However, they have enjoyed a better start to the current campaign and are currently fifth in the table after 10 matches.

Despite the improvement, their recent performances have raised questions about whether they have enough quality to sustain a title challenge.

Gerrard's comments came after Chelsea suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League at the weekend.

Speaking on The Overlap Daily, the former Liverpool midfielder explained that Chelsea would need to invest in their defence before they could compete with Arsenal, Manchester City and other leading European clubs.

He said: "With all due respect, I think for Chelsea to compete with your Arsenals, Man City, Liverpool, and the top end of the Champions League, I think they need to find world-class centre-backs and a world-class left-back."

Gerrard's recommendation means Chelsea should prioritise signing two central defenders and a left-back, with the former midfielder seemingly convinced that those positions require significant improvement.

His assessment also highlights the importance of having an experienced and reliable defence when competing for major trophies.

Although Chelsea have several promising players in their squad, Gerrard believes having potential alone is not enough to challenge established title contenders.

Arsenal and Manchester City have demonstrated the importance of defensive consistency in their pursuit of domestic honours, while Liverpool have also remained among the clubs Chelsea must compete with.

Chelsea's position in the table suggests they have made progress compared with last season, but their defeat to Sunderland serves as another reminder that there is still work to be done.

The January transfer window could provide the club with an opportunity to address the weaknesses identified by Gerrard.

However, signing three defenders would require careful planning, particularly with Chelsea needing players who can immediately improve the quality of the team rather than simply increase the size of the squad.