Maresca: Chelsea ‘not ready’ to challenge Liverpool and Man City for title

Enzo Maresca said his Chelsea side are “not ready” to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title this season, despite their recent form.

The Blues produced an impressive display last time out to put three past Aston Villa on Sunday, with Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer all on target.

They have now lost just one of their last fourteen home games in the Premier League (W9 D4), while their ten total home wins in the league in 2024 is the most at Stamford Bridge in a calendar year since 2021 (also ten).

Chelsea's latest win moved them up to third in the standings, but ahead of Wednesday's clash with lowly Southampton, Maresca tempered expectations for the season last week.

“I don't agree with that. We are not ready to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and City for many reasons. Because we win today, I am not going to change my idea. We are not ready for that,” he said.

“The good thing is that we are getting better. Hopefully we can be there soon. On the other hand, there was a team that was fantastic. I think [Unai] Emery a top manager; he has won trophies everywhere and is doing something fantastic at Villa.

“We definitely need to improve a lot of things. We can attack better, we can defend better, but for me what we need is that you have to experience moments to get better.”

A big three points. #CFC | #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/H0CfkyieUf

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 1, 2024

Russell Martin, meanwhile, believes his fringe Southampton players are ready to step up amid a number of key absences for the visit of Chelsea.

The Saints ended a run of nine direct defeats in the Premier League last Friday by drawing 1-1 with south coast rivals Brighton, avoiding defeat away from home in a top-flight fixture despite being ahead of the conceded the opening goal for the first time since January 2023.

However, that crucial point came at a price with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tyler Dibling picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season, meaning they will miss the match.

But Martin insisted the players ready to make their mark in midweek have his full confidence as they look to close the gap on the sides above them at the bottom of the table.

“We're probably without our five most consistent players so we have to adjust and adjust. Am I kicking myself for playing against three of our best players and taking a point away from Brighton? Absolutely not,” said Martin.

“Ryan Manning came in after not even being on the bench and did really well, is an example of that. We have a big squad, but we knew all season that we needed everyone.

“You can go from not being on the bench to starting and that's it. We have confidence in the players coming in and confidence in the form because they have done this before.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Adam Armstrong

With the absence of several of their key players, Armstrong will play a key role for the Saints on Wednesday. He has scored in each of his last three home games in all competitions.

The last player to score four goals in a row at St Mary's with Saints as the top side was Charlie Austin between September and October 2016.

Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson

Jackson has opened the scoring inside ten minutes in four different Premier League games in 2024, the most of any player this year, with only Chris Wood (seven) scoring the first goal in more top-flight games than the Chelsea striker (six) in total . so far this season.

He has been involved in eight goals in his last eight away Premier League games for Chelsea (six goals, two assists), while he has four goals and an assist in seven games against newly promoted clubs.

4 – Nicolas Jackson has opened the scoring within ten minutes in four different Premier League games in 2024; the most of any player this year. Urgency. pic.twitter.com/vxxRhf6IXL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN

Chelsea have won six of their last eight away games in the Premier League (D1 L1), the same as in their previous 22 away games (D5 L11). Since the start of May, no team has achieved more away points than the Blues in the league (19).

They have also only won more top-level away games against Tottenham (15) than against Southampton (14), while of the teams they have made more than twenty away appearances in the competition, their highest goals-per-match ratio is also against the Saints (1.9 – 45 goals in 24 games).

Maresca's side were also impressive in attack. They have not failed in any of their last 18 away Premier League games against Southampton since the 1-0 defeat in December 1997 under Ruud Gullit.

However, Southampton have won their last two Premier League games against Chelsea, the same amount as in their previous eighteen (D5 L11). They last won three consecutive league games against the Blues between 1979 and 1985.

But since going 10 unbeaten games at St Mary's in the Premier League between October 2021 and February 2022 (W5 D5), Southampton have won just four of their last 31 home games in the competition (D6 L21).

They have also lost six of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League (W2) matches, losing each of the last three without scoring.

OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING

Southampton – 15.9%

Draw – 19.8%

Chelsea – 64.2%