Enzo Maresca points out key difference between Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah & Nicolas Jackson as he defends Chelsea striker amid downturn in form

Jackson has scored nine goals in 19 Premier League games this season, but has not hit the back of the net in any of the last four, all of which Chelsea have failed to win. By comparison, Haaland has scored 16 goals in 20 games, and Salah has scored 18 in 19. Maresca, though, believes that the Blues forward is not helped by the fact that he does not take penalties for the Blues, with Cole Palmer instead holding that responsibility.

This season, Salah has scored five penalties in the Premier League, while Haaland has only scored one. However, Maresca thinks that Jackson's numbers would inflate if he were to take spot-kicks at Stamford Bridge, and has backed him to eventually return to form.

Asked if he has given Jackson any specific advice, Maresca said: "Continue to work in the way he’s working. He scored many goals at the beginning of the season, now there are games he's not scoring. We are completely happy, we don’t judge Nicolas because of his goals but different kinds of things. Last year he scored 14, 15 goals in the league without penalties - Haaland, Salah, Palmer take penalties.

"If you score 14 or 15 in Premier League and add penalties, that’s a 20 goal striker. This year he scored nine or 10, with penalties that’s 13, 14. He’s doing well. Most of the nines shoot penalties so we are completely happy. For sure he’s going to score goals. In all the games he hasn’t scored he’s had great chances but sometimes you don’t score."

Chelsea face Bournemouth in midweek. Maresca's side are currently fourth in the Premier League table, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.