Chelsea are enjoying themselves. Stamford Bridge is a happy place to be. Enzo Maresca is leading the charge. And there is cautious optimism that this is only the start.
After beating Brentford 2-1 on Sunday night - a result that came following slip-ups for Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City - Chelsea have put themselves in a position to be top of the table this time next week. Should they beat Everton then they will reach the summit, even if it is with a game more played and only for a fleeting few minutes.
That is a rise that nobody saw and right now nobody can stop. Against the ever-flexible Brentford in front of them here, Chelsea took the wide route and peppered Thomas Frank's side with crosses. Not perturbed by the three big centre-back figures in red and white, Chelsea pushed down the line and were eventually rewarded with Marc Cucurella's opening goal.
It was the sort of tactical tweak that Maresca has continually made this season, shifting his pieces on the board to maximum effect. When Nicolas Jackson made it 2-0, a deserved scoreline for the match if not for the moment after a substitute-inspired fightback from the visitors, Chelsea ought to have been home and dry.
This period, a 20 minute spell when Brentford hit the bar, took control of the match intensity, and forced Robert Sanchez into an excellent close-range save, is why Maresca is still fighting against the outside notion that Chelsea are real contenders for the league. The very best would have been clear before then - Jackson and Jadon Sancho missed great chances amid waves of pressure and cutting play.
Champions rarely offer the sort of look-in that Chelsea did at the end, as well. The route Bryan Mbeumo took to halve the deficit in the 90th minute as well as the immaturity of handling stoppage time were not signs of a team destined to be crowned winners.
Then again, there is hardly a soul who believe Chelsea are on this journey anyway. The very fact that they have been in positions of strength against Leicester, eventually Tottenham, and then Brentford is a point of immense satisfaction for the youngest team in the division. Seeing them out through adversity, whether self-inflicted or not, is a feather in the cap.
And so the fun train rolls on. Chelsea are in the race to everyone else but are maintaining a bubble of insulation that will make them stronger. Now they are placed well to extend the gap not only to fifth place and the rest of their expected Champions League chasing rivals, but also Arsenal and City, two genuinely elite teams at the top.
Here, football.london compares the upcoming matches of the four sides.
Everton (A) - Sunday, December 22
In a list of Chelsea's bogey fixtures, a trip to Goodison - especially one in December - would come near the top. The good news is that Maresca is having no problems in overcoming recent history to record wins in tough matches on paper.
Chelsea have now already beaten West Ham, Bournemouth, and Wolves away from home. These do not look hard, especially not in hindsight, but have caused the club plenty of issues in years gone by.
Brentford at home is another one that has stopped them before. Overcoming the Goodison curse would go a long way to inspiring serious confidence that maybe this season really is different. Everton are stubborn, though, and really don't concede many goals. Chelsea will need to be at their creative best to get anything out of Sean Dyche's men on what might be their last trip to the stadium.
Fulham (H) - Thursday, December 26
Craven Cottage has been a much happier hunting ground for Chelsea, but Marco Silva has his Fulham side extremely well-drilled. They have already taken points off Arsenal and Liverpool in the past two weeks and ought to have done the same to Manchester City as well.
On what is likely to be an eager Boxing Day at SW6 Chelsea will be confident of continuing their hot streak. Fulham and Brentford occupy a similar spot in the table and if one can be beaten then why not the other?
Ipswich Town (A) - Monday, December 30
In a way, despite league standings, this might be the harder of the two games between Christmas and New Year for Chelsea. A Monday night game under the lights on the cusp of 2025 at Portman Road, it is a serious banana skin.
Maresca has done well to overcome the tricky matches like this so far, though, and will back his side to have far too much quality for a group of players largely recruited for League One (or Championship at best) football. Omari Hutchinson will also be out to prove a point after his exit over the summer.
Crystal Palace (A) Saturday, January 4
In a run of games that has no glaring danger or threat in terms of top, top opponents, a visit to Selhurst Park is similar to the other matches. There is a danger of complacency, maybe, with Palace in 15th currently - albeit unbeaten in five now and off the back of crushing Brighton - but Chelsea in form should have enough.
How Maresca rotates his squad for these games will be just as important as anything. Players have been kept fresh so far but will face more Premier League action in a short burst than at any other stage. If that can be carefully managed then Chelsea will find themselves in a strong position to move forward.
Bournemouth (H) - Tuesday, January 14
Coming after a home FA Cup tie with Morecambe, Chelsea will be tasked with getting back to the Premier League as Andoni Iraola takes his Bournemouth side to Stamford Bridge. The Cherries are knocking on the door of the top four.
With Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson leading from the front in an exciting attacking team, Bournemouth have already shown what they can do, beating City and Arsenal. Those matches were both at home, which will encourage Chelsea, who managed to claim victory in the reverse fixture, but only just.
Liverpool next five fixtures in all competitions
Tottenham (A) - Sunday, December 22.
Leicester City (H) - Thursday, December 26.
West Ham (A) - Sunday, December 29.
Manchester United (H) - Sunday, January 5.
Nottingham Forest (A) - Tuesday, January 14.
Arsenal next five fixtures in all competitions
Crystal Palace (A) - Saturday, December 21.
Ipswich Town (H) - Friday, December 27.
Brentford (A) - Wednesday, January 1.
Brighton (A) - Saturday, January 4.
Tottenham (H) - Wednesday, January 15.
Manchester City next five fixtures in all competitions
Aston Villa (A) - Saturday, December 21.
Everton (H) - Thursday, December 26.
Leicester City (A) - Sunday, December 29.
West Ham (H) - Saturday, January 4.
Brentford (A) - Tuesday, January 14.
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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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