Enzo Maresca might want to downplay Chelsea’s title probabilities, however the actuality is that they’re very a lot concerned within the combine.
The Blues now sit 4 factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after securing the lion’s share of the factors in opposition to Ange Postecoglou’s wildly inconsistent Tottenham.
Arne Slot’s males do have a recreation in hand on the Londoners, however the identical can’t be stated of Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis who sit two and 4 factors behind respectively.
Admittedly, Chelsea have but to beat any of their title rivals in 2024/25, having drawn in opposition to the Gunners and suffered defeats to the Sky Blues and Merseysiders already.
Nonetheless, Maresca’s aspect are second on the leaderboard and, in an identical vein to Slot’s Liverpool, are actively defying expectations.
Enzo Maresca makes trustworthy league title admission
The previous Manchester Metropolis worker refused to be drawn into title speak within the rapid aftermath of Chelsea’s victory on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Arsenal, [Manchester] Metropolis and Liverpool in all probability don’t slide – like Cucurella did,” the Italian was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
“To be severe, we aren’t prepared. We’re removed from these groups, however we concentrate on day-by-day and attempting to enhance the crew.
“The plan or the thought is to not let the gamers decelerate. They can’t drop as a result of they know one other participant is ready to come back in.”
Credit score the place credit score is because of Maresca. The membership is sort of definitely forward of schedule given the comparative state of fortunes loved by his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino.
The place there was as soon as dysfunction and a aspect characterised by an absence of course and unity, there’s now a rising sense of concord.
Even when Chelsea want rather more time to pose a extra severe risk within the title race, as Maresca claims, it needs to be a rising concern for Liverpool, Arsenal and Metropolis followers heading into the longer term.
Arsenal have handed extra management to Liverpool
With a uncommon set of factors dropped by Liverpool at St James’ Park, Mikel Arteta’s males regarded primed to take benefit.
A 2-0 win over Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United was a powerful begin, however a failure to additional capitalise on the fixture chaos attributable to Storm Darragh understandably had Paul Merson feeling a bit of deflated.
‘Benefit Liverpool’ was the 56-year-old’s concluding level as he assessed Arsenal’s doubtlessly pricey 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Over to you now, Liverpool!
