Chelsea's dismal transfer strategy was the key factor in their Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool.

The Blues lost 1-0 on the night after an extra-time Virgil Van Dijk header won the game for the Reds.

However, Shearer believes that if Chelsea had invested smarter, they would have been able to take one of the numerous chances that fell their way in the game.

Shearer told The Rest Is Football Podcast: “I thought, doesn't it typify what's happened or happening at Chelsea? They just haven't got someone to put the ball in the back of the net.

"They created the chances, and we've been saying it most of the season. They've spent an absolute fortune. Can you imagine, you're in the dressing room and see the teamsheet come through and today lads, there is no Salah, no Jota, Nunez, Trent, Alisson, Szoboszlai. You'd think 'This is our opportunity' and they couldn't. They failed to take it.

“There is nothing unlucky about missing chances. If you create them, you've got to put them in the back of the net. When you spend that much dough on players and you haven't got a top centre-forward, you've only got yourselves to blame."