Malo Gusto's performance on Saturday has sparked fierce debate among Chelsea fans and pundits alike, with some now questioning whether the young full-back will ever be good enough for the Blues. The 92-appearance star struggled to contain Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha, and the fallout has been brutal.

On the latest episode of the London is Blue podcast, presenter Nick Verlaney didn't hold back: "It's tough when you get cooked by a kid. Malo Gusto really struggled to contain Ngumoha. It's really hard to see him succeeding here."

Verlaney went on to criticize Gusto's overall development this season. "There was a moment under Enzo Maresca where I think he was struggling from a passing perspective, but he had gotten more diligent defensively. I think that's all kind of gone out the window this season. I think he's really not been very good."

While Gusto has shown flashes of promise since joining Chelsea, days like Saturday are a stark reminder of the inconsistency that plagues his game. For a team aiming to climb the Premier League table, such lapses can be costly—and frustrating for fans who expect more from a player with his experience.

In other Chelsea news, the managerial race is heating up, with Xabi Alonso reportedly emerging as the "leading candidate" for the job. Meanwhile, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola remains in the mix after an in-person meeting with club representatives, according to recent reports.

For now, though, all eyes are on Gusto and whether he can bounce back from this latest criticism. As the season progresses, the young defender will need to prove that Saturday's performance was an anomaly—not a sign of things to come.