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

The former England captain believes the Blues still lack the required quality at the back to compete consistently with the strongest teams in England and Europe.

Gerrard has urged Chelsea to sign two world-class centre-backs and a world-class left-back ahead of the January transfer window, insisting that significant improvements in defence are necessary if the club want to become genuine title contenders.

Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Gerrard explained that Chelsea need to strengthen their defensive department before they can realistically compete with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

"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 said.

His comments come at a time when Chelsea are attempting to establish themselves among the leading clubs in the Premier League again.

The Blues endured a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, finishing 10th in the league and missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

That disappointing position raised questions about the quality and balance of the squad, particularly considering the money Chelsea have invested in recruiting players in recent seasons.

However, there have been signs of improvement this season, with the Stamford Bridge club currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table after 10 matches.

Although their position represents progress compared with last season, Gerrard believes Chelsea still have a considerable amount of work to do before they can challenge for the biggest prizes.

The former Liverpool captain's recommendation is particularly focused on the centre-back positions.

He believes Chelsea need two defenders of the highest quality who can provide consistency, leadership and defensive organisation.

Having two reliable centre-backs would give the team greater stability, particularly when facing opponents with strong attacking players.

Gerrard also believes the left-back position requires attention. A world-class player in that role could improve Chelsea's defensive balance while also offering quality and support going forward.

His assessment suggests that Chelsea cannot depend solely on their attacking talents if they want to compete with the most successful teams in the division.

Arsenal and Manchester City have built their title challenges around strong squads with quality in several departments. Gerrard believes Chelsea must reach a similar level of quality, especially in defence.

The timing of his comments is also significant because Chelsea recently suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Sunderland in the Premier League.

The defeat came as another setback for the Blues after their encouraging start to the campaign and highlighted the challenges they still face in maintaining consistency.

For Gerrard, the result is part of a wider picture of a Chelsea side that still needs important improvements before it can compete at the highest level.

The January transfer window could therefore provide the club with an opportunity to address some of the weaknesses in their squad.

However, recruiting three world-class defenders midway through the season would not be an easy task. Chelsea would need to identify the right players and ensure that any new arrivals can make an immediate impact.

The club's recruitment strategy will also be under scrutiny because Chelsea have already spent heavily on building their squad in recent years.