Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s manager, has made it clear that he does not consider his team ready to compete for the Premier League title. After Chelsea’s hard-fought win against Brentford, he expressed his belief that while the team is winning games, they are still not prepared to challenge for the title. He cited Chelsea’s inexperience compared to other title contenders like Liverpool and Manchester City, who have more history and success in title races.
Chelsea’s Impressive Form
Despite Maresca’s cautious approach, Chelsea has been defying expectations with their form. The team has won their last seven matches across all competitions, including five in the Premier League. Chelsea’s recent success has propelled them to the top of the Premier League form table, with 16 points from the last six games. Arsenal is second with 12 points, and Liverpool sits in third with 11 points.
Upcoming Fixtures: Chelsea’s Opportunity to Leapfrog Liverpool
Chelsea’s schedule gives them a slight advantage over Liverpool in the coming weeks. The Blues will play first, with an upcoming trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. If Chelsea can secure three points against Everton, they could temporarily move to the top of the Premier League standings, at least until Liverpool’s next match against Tottenham. Similarly, Chelsea could build more pressure with their Boxing Day clash against Fulham, ahead of Liverpool’s home match against Leicester City.
Liverpool’s Game in Hand
However, Liverpool still holds a game in hand over Chelsea due to the postponement of their Merseyside Derby. This gives the Reds the opportunity to pull away from Chelsea if they manage to win their next match. Nonetheless, Chelsea’s goal remains clear: keep winning and take advantage of any slip-ups by their rivals.
The Road Ahead for Chelsea
As things stand, Chelsea remains focused on continuing their winning run. With the right results, they could apply significant pressure on Liverpool and other title contenders. While Maresca insists that Chelsea is not yet ready to fight for the title, their current form is certainly making it an exciting race to watch.
