From chaos to contenders: Maresca causing the turnaround for Chelsea

"No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title." That was Enzo Maresca after Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 and moved to second in the Premier League, two points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand. Win at Everton on Sunday and Chelsea could be leading the standings if only till Liverpool finish against Tottenham Hotspur.

- Dhiman Sarkar

So, no matter how much the head coach tries to deflect talk of being contenders, Chelsea cannot avoid it being part of Christmas conversation. That they are the first team to win five successive league matches, and, after their 5-1 win against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday, have comfortably qualified for the Conference League Round of 16 do nothing to reduce talk of a first title since 2016-17.

After the win against Brentford, Maresca was making the point about Chelsea's inability to close out the game as proof of why he thinks they are not ready to be contenders yet. But in a season where no team bar Liverpool have got on a run, Chelsea are doing their bit to make the title race interesting.