Enzo Maresca says Chelsea's defeat to Liverpool in last season's Carabao Cup final is proof the Reds have an advantage over his side when it comes to winning the Premier League this season.
Chelsea sit second in the Premier League heading into Christmas but Blues boss Maresca has consistently denied his team are in the title race as he believes it is too early for his young side.
However, Maresca does accept that the table is a somewhat accurate reflection of where his team is placed as the Premier League season nears the halfway point, but still puts Liverpool ahead of his team.
“I certainly think the reality is that we are second and not just second after four or five games, while the table is probably still not the real one,” he said.
“It's almost halfway through, after 17 games, so probably the table reflects a bit on the teams and where they are.
'But it is certain that Liverpool are doing fantastic from the first matchday. It is a team that has already experienced moments like that and won a trophy, which is important.
'At one of my press conferences I said that last year, when Liverpool faced Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, I saw the number of finals that Liverpool players had played and those of Chelsea, and that was a huge difference.
“This showed the experience you need to read, elevate and get closer to moments like this, but we're happy to be where we are at the moment.”
Maresca is also backing his former club Manchester City, where he was assistant manager under Pep Guardiola for a year, to move closer to top spot at the end of the season.
“I think Manchester City will be there in the end,” he said.
“They are in a moment that has never happened before. Every time they play a match they have some injuries. They don't have enough players at the moment. The players they have are probably still not 100% after coming back from injury, so it's a very bad situation.”
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