Chelsea players celebrate after beating Tottenham
Chelsea continued their fine recent run with a win at Tottenham on Sunday
After the postponement of the Merseyside Derby gave Liverpool's title challengers a chance to make a case for themselves as title challengers, only Chelsea stepped up.
Following draws for Manchester City at Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Fulham, Enzo Maresca's Blues started slowly away to Tottenham. However, they recovered from going 2-0 down inside the opening 15 minutes and battled back for victory in North London.
Chelsea have won twice since manager Maresca played down their title hopes in early December, scoring nine times in the process. They now have 35 goals in the league, at least four more than any other club and six more than the league leaders - albeit from one game more.
Even so, not everyone is convinced of the Blues' title credentials. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested they still need to strengthen in defence and in goal, with questions remaining after Sunday's 4-3 win.
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So, are Chelsea the real deal when it comes to the title race, or will they be back in the pack come May? We asked the Mirror Football team for their verdict.
Andy Dunn
As much as we never seem to tire of labelling the Premier League as the best in the world, the standard this season has been bang average. And that is why Chelsea are not only in the title race, they have emerged as one of only three teams that can win it.
Fifteen Premier League games in, it is clear Manchester City are having a season off. They are lucky to have the number of points they have.
The battle will be between Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. And the odds of 7-1 against Chelsea finishing on top are surprisingly generous.
Do you believe Chelsea are serious title contenders? Have your say in the comments section
Chelsea's players celebrating during their win at Tottenham (
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CameraSport via Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca has a hugely talented squad at his disposal and Chelsea’s European distraction is not really a European distraction, it’s a doddle. He does not need to strengthen his squad. Maresca’s mantra that the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and City have the edge because they have been there or thereabouts for several seasons is predictable nonsense.
Leicester City finished 14th in 2014/15 and won it in 2015/16. Never mind talk of future domination, the title is there to be won by Chelsea this season.
I think they will finish just behind Liverpool but will take the race down to the wire. Chelsea are good now … and are only going to get better.
Jacob Leeks
Questions have been asked about Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez (
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Getty Images)
Fair play to Enzo Maresca, he's turned Chelsea around in a way I didn't think possible this season. After an awful start they are certainly in the title race, given they are only four points behind Liverpool.
They also have a very favourable fixture list ahead, with games against strugglers Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Everton and Wolves all ahead of them over the next month. But the Blues will have to pass a few tough tests as they also face Brentford, Bournemouth and Fulham in the same time period.
If they are to make sure of their challenge, they definitely need to sign a new keeper, with Robert Sanchez not up to scratch. While Chelsea are flying, I do think at least one of Arsenal or Manchester City will catch them up, though the Blues will certainly claim a top four spot.
Ben Husband
The table after 15 games may not tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but it isn't far off. And after 15 games Chelsea are firmly in the title picture.
Chelsea have a friendly run of fixtures up ahead (
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CameraSport via Getty Images)
That could become an even stronger argument with an extended run of - on paper - fairly winnable fixtures. Maresca has Chelsea playing a vibrant and exciting brand of football, albeit with some issues at the back.
I do agree with Carragher that issues defensively will prove their ultimate undoing, but there is little question they are very much in the mix.
Can they outlast the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City in year one of Maresca? I'm not so sure, but I expect the top four to be relatively close and the Blues to be sitting pretty in either third or fourth at the end of the season.
Oli Gamp
Chelsea are absolutely in the title race. They're only four points off Liverpool, albeit playing a game more, but they've been quietly going about their business and they look just as good as any challenger to Arne Slot's side after hitting four at Tottenham.
Cole Palmer is once again hitting top form at the right time, Chelsea's forwards are contributing much more and the midfield looks solid with Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia impressing this season. What once looked like a team of individuals since the start of the Todd Boehly era now looks like a cohesive unit under Enzo Maresca.
Yes, they could easily improve on Robert Sanchez in goal and much of their defence - and should do so in January, especially at right-back and centre-back. For now, though, Chelsea are showing they have enough to challenge at the top.
I think Chelsea will finish third behind Liverpool and Arsenal, but given they came sixth last season that would be an excellent end result that most Chelsea fans would have taken in the summer. I expect the Blues to push Liverpool for the title towards the end of the season before falling away towards the climax.
Tommy Wathen
Cole Palmer's goals have helped Chelsea close the gap on Liverpool (
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Getty Images) Don't Miss
Chelsea sit second in the Premier League - and it's hard to find a reason why they can't be involved in the title race this season. Enzo Maresca's side are unbeaten in their last seven league fixtures, which included tough away fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United and home ties against Champions League duo Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Some will argue that their impressive league position is thanks to Manchester City's surprise downturn in form and Arsenal dropping points, but that's football - right? When your rivals slip up, you need to be ready to take full advantage of the situation - and that's exactly what Chelsea are doing.
Liverpool look like the favourites for the Premier League crown at present, but even Arne Slot's team will be due a poor run in the coming months - and Chelsea need to stay alert. With Cole Palmer's stunning performances week-after-week, Chelsea are certainly heading back in the Champions League next season - and I don't see why they couldn't go even further if they keep getting results.
Tom Victor
Nicolas Jackson has impressed for Chelsea after a difficult first season
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Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea might not have been considered serious contenders before the season started, but plenty of people would have said the same about Liverpool. Both have thrived under new managers, and - while Arne Slot's side are very much the front-runners - Enzo Maresca's men can't be discounted.
That said, things may need to improve at the back. More than a decade has passed since a team won the Premier League while conceding more than a goal per game, and even 2015/16 surprise package Leicester needed a run of five wins to nil in March and April to help them get over the line.
Maresca's men are doing everything right at the other end, though. Nicolas Jackson has made a big step up and Cole Palmer has remained among the goals, but more importantly they have plenty of other players who know where the goal is
Chelsea might still need more bodies in January if they want to stay in contention, and Carragher's questions about the defence are valid ones. Even if they fall just short of the title, though, the progress is clearly there and it's hard to see them not making a big improvement compared to last season.
Scott Trotter
Chelsea have a goal threat throughout the side (
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Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Football is a results business and Chelsea are delivering at the moment. Their position cannot be argued with.
Any team sitting above Arsenal and Manchester City must be considered part of the title picture. Well, not exactly.
Liverpool are putting in their best effort to ensure there is just one team in the frame and until they slip up once again it is difficult to truly label anyone else a contender.
Arsenal and City have shown the ability in the past to persist for a full season, meaning they will be there if the Reds do falter. Chelsea still need to prove they can do that and do have defensive vulnerability that makes it tough to say they have a chance of winning the Premeir League this season. In attack there are convincing credentials and surprisingly few reasons to question their chances.
Enzo Maresca's side do not feel quite complete yet, and the Italian's difficult spell with Leicester in the second half of last season does bring an element of caution about what comes next. The Foxes did win the league though...
Chelsea might just need to find another gear to record victories against the likes of Liverpool, City and Arsenal, however.
Mike Walters
Chelsea have been very busy in the transfer market during the Todd Boehly era (
Image:
Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
How can you spend £1billion on transfers in two years and NOT be title contenders. The question about Chelsea is not whether they are in the mix this season - but why they were ever out of it.
With Manchester City misfiring and Arsenal over-reliant on set pieces, the Blues are Liverpool's likeliest challengers. But to wear the crown, they will need a top-class goalkeeper - sorry, Robert Sanchez is not in the very highest bracket like David Raya or Emi Martinez - and perhaps a No.9 matchwinner up top.
Enzo Maresca has an abundance of attacking talent, notably Cole Palmer, at his disposal, but a 25 goals-a-season striker would tilt the balance in Chelsea's favour.
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