Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has responded to Chelsea's Premier League title challenge - saying that Enzo Maresca's side have shown they will be competitors this year.
The Blues' progression since Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino this summer has been rapid, with the club taking 31 points from a possible 45 from their opening 15 matches.
Only Liverpool, also with a new head coach at the helm in Arne Slot, between this season and the last, have performed better. Their tally currently stands at 35 points from 14 matches, as they are owed a game-in-hand following last weekend's Merseyside derby postponement.
Still in its earlier days, the Premier League title battle, this season, is shaping up to be how few people expected. Champions of the past four seasons Manchester City have won only one match of their last 10 in all competitions, languishing in fourth place after a torrid run which has really caught the eye.
If that poor form continues, they risk dropping out of the race so early on, while there are potential cracks at Arsenal with points dropped in seven matches this term. Mikel Arteta's side sit third, but what does Liverpool captain Van Dijk think as his side top the standings?
"I watched the last bit of Chelsea-Tottenham and had a nice afternoon with my family, which was much more important than any of the games," he told The Liverpool ECHO.
"I don't think [Chelsea] are under the radar. Obviously with the squad they have and the players they have. The players that can come off the bench."
Van Dijk continued: "Obviously, we can talk about inexperience maybe but they have the quality, they have the players to make it difficult for any team - and that is what they have been doing so they are definitely up there. I think they have shown it."
The two Premier League rivals met for the first time this season at Anfield back in October. It was Liverpool who narrowly came out on top, winning 2-1 after Nicolas Jackson netted a Chelsea equaliser. The meeting at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for May 3, 2025 - right near the end of the 2024/2025 campaign.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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