Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has expressed concerns over Chelsea’s future following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton, warning that missing out on Champions League football would be a disaster for the club.

The loss at the Amex Stadium leaves Chelsea’s chances of securing a top-four finish in serious doubt, and Carragher believes frustration is growing among both fans and players.

“Chelsea has been deemed in the last couple of years a project, and I think the natives will be getting restless,” Carragher stated.

He compared Enzo Maresca’s situation to that of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, highlighting how little progress Chelsea may have made despite their significant spending.

“(Mauricio) Pochettino had an incredible run at the end of the season. I think in terms of the numbers you have to look at, there is not going to be much difference between the seasons.”

Carragher stressed that Chelsea’s massive financial investment means failure to qualify for the Champions League is unacceptable.

“I think it is a real worry if they aren’t getting Champions League football. They have spent big boy money, and they were one of the big boys before they even spent that money.”

He also questioned whether Chelsea’s best players, like Cole Palmer, would be willing to wait for long-term success.

“This idea that this project is going to take three years, the problem is that the best players won’t wait that long. You can see a frustration starting to build. Cole Palmer is good enough to compete for the biggest honours.”

To emphasise Chelsea’s struggles, Carragher pointed out how Nottingham Forest currently sit third in the table despite operating on a fraction of Chelsea’s budget.

He went on: “Nottingham Forest are third and Chelsea have spent over a billion pounds. They are basically playing once a week. They have to get Champions League. If they don’t get Champions League, it will be a disaster.”

With pressure mounting, Chelsea must turn their fortunes around quickly to avoid what Carragher warns could be a defining failure in their ambitious rebuild.