Chelsea will be hoping to take another step forward in the Premier League this season, and now club legend John Terry has rated the club’s chances of leapfrogging last season’s champions, Liverpool.
Enzo Maresca has guided the Blues to a very strong start to the campaign, picking up seven points from their first three games so far.
The boss has done this without some of his key players too. Levi Colwill is set to miss the majority of the campaign, while Cole Palmer has not been present for two of their three fixtures.
Those injury problems have been added to, with Liam Delap and Dario Essugo now on the treatment table for at least a couple of months.
Chelsea U21 v Manchester City U21 - Premier League 2
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John Terry makes Chelsea Premier League prediction
With hopes of building on their fourth placed finish from last season, the Blues will need to overtake Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
While Terry believes Pep Guardiola’s side are showing signs of weakness so far this season, he told TalkSPORT that he doesn’t believe the young Blues have enough experience to overthrow Liverpool as the champions.
He said: “I think they’re the strongest side [Liverpool]. I think Man City have shown vulnerability again this season, I’m not sure Chelsea have enough experience in their squad to push them, and also don’t want to put pressure on the Chelsea squad as well, so I think it’s Liverpool’s to lose.”
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A very limited pre-season campaign and break after the prior season is hardly the ideal preparation, but Chelsea can take confidence from the Club World Cup that they are threatening to turn a corner in an area that matters the most.
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Chelsea have to start winning big games to win the league
Against the three teams who finished above them last season, Chelsea were defeated in four of the fixtures that likely defined the destination of the top spots.
The only victory the Blues secured was against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, and while this was crucial for Maresca’s side, it came after Arne Slot’s side had already secured the title.
The Club World Cup final showed this young Chelsea side turn up against the European champions PSG and completely dominate the fixture, and this should spark confidence going into the new campaign that this can continue.
Chelsea’s first game of the 2025/26 season against one of these sides is against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 4.