Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has heaped praise on Premier League title rivals Chelsea. Enzo Maresca's squad currently sit second in the top-flight table, four points off the Reds, albeit having played a game more.
The Blues entered the 2024/25 campaign with plenty of ridicule following another huge outlay on new players after finishing sixth last term. New Chelsea head coach Maresca arrived at Stamford Bridge with much to prove, having landed in west London after a season in the Championship with Leicester City.
But the Italian has overseen an impressive turnaround at the Blues, who have lost just three matches all season. There is now a genuine belief that Chelsea could challenge Liverpool for Premier League glory this season.
And Slot has stated his belief that Maresca's team were "better" than his when the two sides met in the league earlier this season. Liverpool won 2-1 at Anfield on October 20 after goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones.
"It was one of the games - or maybe the only game - where I felt the team was better than us," Slot said when he was asked if Chelsea were legitimate title contenders. "That was my opinion about Chelsea back then - and that is still my opinion."
Maresca, meanwhile, has dismissed his team's title credentials this season.
"You can smell that, you can feel that - and that is probably why I said we are not ready because we don't feel that and we don't smell that at this moment," he said ahead of their home fixture against Brentford on Sunday.
"Hopefully soon we can be there but, at this moment, that is one of the reasons why I think we are not there.
"I like to convince myself and to convince the players that the only way to fight for something or to compete for something is to focus on the day-by-day. Because when you start to think in two days, or three days, one month, two months, it's the beginning of the bad time."
football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel
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)
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!