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Chelsea’s resurgence under new management has raised questions about their potential to challenge Liverpool in the Premier League title race. Speaking on the Anfield Index Podcast, journalist David Lynch assessed Chelsea’s current form and analysed whether their recent improvements are enough to make them genuine title contenders.
Chelsea’s Form: Promising but Flawed
Chelsea’s recent performances have shown significant improvement, with the team producing some excellent football. Lynch acknowledged this, saying:
“Chelsea are playing some fabulous football at the moment, and they’re really entertaining to watch.”
However, he cautioned against overestimating their progress, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities as a major concern:
“Defensively, they’re still far from solid. You can’t be conceding the chances they are and expect to be in a title race.”
Chelsea’s defensive metrics, including their expected goals against (xGA), underline this issue, with Lynch noting:
“They’re around 10th in the league for expected goals against. That’s not the hallmark of a title-winning team.”
Photo: IMAGO
Key Players Driving Chelsea’s Momentum
One of the standout contributors to Chelsea’s form has been Cole Palmer, whose performances have added a new dimension to their attack. Lynch was full of praise for the young midfielder:
“Cole Palmer has been phenomenal. He’s transformed their attack and is a joy to watch.”
Despite this, Lynch argued that a lack of consistency from other key players could hinder Chelsea’s title ambitions. He remarked:
“It’s not just about one or two players performing well. To challenge Liverpool, they need a cohesive team effort, and they’re not quite there yet.”
Chelsea’s Defensive Concerns
Lynch placed particular emphasis on Chelsea’s defensive frailties, singling out goalkeeper Robert Sánchez as a potential weak link.
“It’s hard to imagine a title-winning team with Sánchez in goal. He’s made too many mistakes this season,” Lynch explained.
He also pointed to issues in Chelsea’s backline, suggesting that their current defensive setup is unlikely to sustain a serious title challenge.
“If they don’t solve the defensive problems, it’s hard to see them keeping pace with Liverpool.”
Photo: IMAGO
Are Chelsea Genuine Contenders?
While Lynch acknowledged Chelsea’s potential, he was sceptical about their ability to maintain a title challenge this season. He stated:
“Chelsea are top-four contenders, no doubt about it. But as for the title, they’ve got too much ground to make up and too many flaws to fix.”
He concluded that while Chelsea’s current form is impressive, their defensive vulnerabilities and lack of consistency will likely prevent them from mounting a sustained challenge to Liverpool’s dominance at the top of the table.
Liverpool Remain Favourites
David Lynch’s analysis paints a clear picture: while Chelsea’s form is encouraging and they have the potential to grow into serious contenders, they are not yet at Liverpool’s level. As Lynch summarised:
“Chelsea have made strides, but Liverpool’s consistency and quality set them apart in this title race.”
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