On a weekend when they didn't even play, Liverpool gained some traction over two of their title rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City. In many ways, things couldn't have gone much better for Arne Slot's side.
Things looked even better when Tottenham took a 2-0 lead over their other nearest challenger, Chelsea, within eleven minutes on Sunday. It looked like a potential classic Spurs victory until Enzo Maresca regrouped his side at the break, told them they were still in the game and then saw them score three second-half goals to win 4–3.
More importantly, it put them four points clear of the leaders, who had a short waiting list after Storm Darragh's unwelcome introduction paid for the Merseyside derby on Saturday afternoon.
It was still 45 minutes away from the perfect weekend for Liverpool, but instead Chelsea have a dangerous trio with momentum, the most powerful attack in the Premier League and a favorable fixture list in the coming weeks.
Liverpool only have one free midweek until the end of January and that falls during the busy New Year period, so it seems unlikely they'll be able to find a new date to face Everton in that time – meaning a four-point swing would be enough for Chelsea to undo their lead.
With the strongest squad among the title chasers and now leading the way as the division's top scorers, Enzo Maresca's insistence that the Blues are not in the race may not hold for much longer.
Of Chelsea's next seven league games before a visit to the Etihad Stadium on January 25, only Crystal Palace finished in the top half of the Premier League last season, and none of their upcoming opponents are in the top seven of the league this year.
The average position of the opponents in that time is 13.7, while Arsenal's is 11.9 and Liverpool's is the highest at 11.1. The Reds also face traditional big six rivals Tottenham and Man Utd in that time – although both are currently languishing in the bottom half of the league – as well as Nottm Forest, who won at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The only three top-half teams Chelsea face are Brentford, Bournemouth and Fulham – all three of whom travel to Stamford Bridge – and each of them is an opponent the Blues will certainly be able to beat on their day.
That should, bizarrely, start with a first-ever Premier League home win over the Bees this weekend, as Thomas Frank's side have beaten them in all three games at Stamford Bridge since their promotion in 2021.
But this is a Chelsea side in the kind of form they have lacked in recent years, with Brentford yet to win away from home this season.
The Blues' run of 12 goals in three games to beat Aston Villa, Southampton and now Spurs has lifted them into the position of the division's top scorers, four ahead of Frank's Bees in an unlikely second spot.
These goals have come from seven different goalscorers over the past week, with Maresca putting their strong team on full display, allowing 21 different players to feature in the 270 minutes of Premier League football.
Only Southampton, Man City and Ipswich have made more changes to the starting line-up this season, but this has not affected Maresca's side in the same way as the rest of the trio, given the strength of the options he has in reserve.
The Blues' other four games are against Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Everton and Wolves – all teams are within five points of the relegation zone as things stand.
Maresca's side have not been beaten by any side in the bottom half and have a points-per-match record that is only bettered by their two title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool in matches against teams outside the top 10.
Whether Chelsea's points tally and form are enough to sustain the title for another 23 games will be tested in the new year, but Jamie Carragher believes they will not have the defensive quality to lift the Premier League trophy in May to wait.
Speaking about their Super Sunday title challenge, he said: “It's real because they're there. The big advantage for them is that they're not in the Champions League, so Maresca can change the whole team and it's still a real team. “
“They have six or seven attackers who you could say are the first choice. Not participating in the Carabao Cup could be important if Arsenal or Liverpool reach the final.”
“I look at the goalkeeper and two central defenders, Benoit Badiashile who played [against Tottenham] and I just can't see anyone winning the Premier League with that goalkeeper and without a real standout centre-back.
“City won it with Ederson and Ruben Dias, Liverpool with Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, you go back to John Terry and Petr Cech. Those numbers you think you need to win a title, I still think that Chelsea are still a bit lacking in those areas.”
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