Troy Deeney slams £31m Chelsea star but praises ‘underrated’ Liverpool signing | Football

Troy Deeney has revealed he ‘doesn’t rate’ Chelsea star Malo Gusto but hailed a Liverpool summer signing because the ‘most underrated within the Premier League’.

France international Gusto received many plaudits for his impressive performance in Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on Saturday.

The 22-year-old, who Chelsea signed for £31m in 2023, provided the assist for Cole Palmer’s opening goal before scoring himself.

Naturally a right-back, Gusto has shown a willingness and a capability to step into Chelsea’s midfield, as club captain Reece James often does to great success.

Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy were among the many pundits to single out Gusto for praise after the Everton win and Deeney too named him in his BBC Team of the Week.

However the ex-Premier League striker couldn’t resist taking a swipe at Gusto in the method, saying he ‘doesn’t rate’ the £31m Chelsea signing.

‘I’m not the largest lover of this fella if I’m being honest,’ Deeney said. ‘I can’t work out why I don’t rate him but I just don’t.

‘But credit where credit is due – he scored a great goal and played well against Everton – who were poor.

‘He appears to be stepping up. A goal and an assist. I even have to be as fair as I can.’

While Deeney gave a mixed verdict on Gusto, he had nothing bad to say about Liverpool summer signing Hugo Ekitike, who he rates as ‘essentially the most underrated striker within the Premier League’.

Ekitike, who Liverpool signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m, continued the promising begin to his Anfield profession with a brace in Saturday’s win over Brighton.

Liverpool fans were excited concerning the arrival of Alexander Isak in a record £125m deal from Newcastle United but it surely is Ekitike who has predominately been leading the road for Arne Slot’s side.

‘Essentially the most underrated striker within the Premier League,’ Deeney said of the France forward. ‘Two goals in back-to-back games.

‘The child scores. He comes off after 70 minutes for Alexander Isak. Unbelievable signing.

‘He can be pushing Erling Haaland all the way in which for many goals. This kid is mustard – he’s the actual deal.

‘One other one who can be the World Cup and pondering he’s got to go – he can play off the left-hand side with Kylian Mbappe for France.’

Chelsea’s victory over Everton on the weekend took the Blues back into the Champions League places, though they continue to be eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca’s side sealed one other win on Tuesday night, beating League One side Cardiff City 3-1 within the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

The clash looked set for extra-time when David Turnbull cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s opener but late goals from the Argentine and Pedro Neto sent Chelsea through.

Chelsea will face either Manchester City, Brentford, Newcastle, Fulham, Arsenal or Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are seventh within the Premier League after Saturday’s home win against Brighton.

Sitting ten points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, a title defence is probably going beyond Slot’s side but they at the very least appear to have turned a corner following a shocking run.

Liverpool will look to proceed their encouraging revival on Saturday after they face inconsistent Tottenham, while Chelsea face a difficult trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle.

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