Wednesday 16 December 2015 15:20, UK
West Ham forward Andy Carroll says Chelsea are on such a poor run of form that they have to be considered relegation candidates.
Chelsea won the Premier League title by an eight-point margin last season but have struggled so far this campaign, suffering their ninth league defeat at Leicester on Monday Night Football.
Jose Mourinho's side are sitting just a point above the relegation zone after 16 games, having managed just four victories so far and Carroll, who scored in West Ham's win over Chelsea earlier in the season, believes the prospect of a relegation fight for the reigning champions must be considered.
Carroll told Sky Sports: "It's crazy to see, the quality in that team, at the bottom of the league.
"It is tough to actually realise that they are such a good team, with quality players, and who spent so much money on those players - they just can't string a pass together at the minute."
Asked if they could truly be considered as candidates for the drop, Carroll added: "You never know. It is hard to see it, isn't it? I think that's the problem.
I think the main focus at the minute is West Ham. Getting fit, staying fit, scoring goals and pushing West Ham up the League.
"It is hard to think Chelsea could be in the bottom three at the end of the season. But the way they are going, I don't see why they can't get relegated. I think it's on the cards."
Carroll's goal against Chelsea is his only one of the campaign so far and the 26-year-old admits he needs to score more regularly if he is to earn an England recall.
"I'd love to be back in the England squad, I'd love to be at the Euros at the end of the season," said Carroll.
"But I think the main focus at the minute is West Ham. Getting fit, staying fit, scoring goals and pushing West Ham up the league."
The Hammers are eighth in the table after a solid start to life under Slaven Bilic, but Carroll thinks they should be doing even better.
"I think we have got to try and get into Europe, 100 per cent," he said. "I think some of the games we have played, we should have won.
"We could be up there around the top places. If we look at ourselves deep down, we could be there."
