Pressure on Xabi Alonso is mounting after Chelsea’s defeats to Tottenham in the Premier League and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. The Blues had started to gather momentum after the international break, but that has now been lost.

Fans and the media have been particularly critical of Alonso’s team selection, such as not starting a striker against Spurs. However, the biggest controversy has to be Estevao Willian’s lack of involvement.

The Brazilian wonderkid played just 18 minutes last weekend and was an unused substitute against Liverpool on Wednesday. Former Premier League players Jobi McAnuff and Clinton Morrison were puzzled by Alonso’s decision to leave him out.

Jobi McAnuff and Clinton Morrison question Estevao Willian snub

Jobi McAnuff speculated that Xabi Alonso must have a reason for leaving Estevao Willian out, which we are unaware of. However, he found it inconceivable that the 19-year-old did not come on when Chelsea needed a goal against Liverpool in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

McAnuff told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think it’s one Xabi Alonso has to answer very soon because you can talk about injuries and suspensions to forward players and again, in a game like today, he is a difference maker.

“He’s the last person you want to see come on that pitch tonight if you are a Liverpool defender. [Estevao] getting on the ball, running at you, making things happen. I just feel that there’s something there at the moment that is stopping him from getting the game time that we are all sitting here thinking he should be getting.”

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison agreed with McAnuff’s assessment of the Estevao situation. He suggested the Brazilian must be baffled by how Alonso has treated him since the Spaniard joined the West London club.

“How Estevao has not got on the pitch tonight, I do not know,” Morrison added. “He must be thinking, ‘What do I have to do? We have injuries to two of the star players up front and I’m still not getting on the pitch.'”

Chelsea fans in the away end at Anfield chanted Estevao’s name during the second half, making it abundantly clear they wanted him to come on. As McAnuff alluded to, Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas would have been terrified at the prospect of facing the Brazil international. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to make an impact.