Chelsea's Enzo Maresca Declares Team Not Ready To Challenge Liverpool And Man City For Title

Add as a preferred source on Google

Enzo Maresca has expressed that Chelsea are not yet prepared to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title this season. Despite their recent strong performance, including a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa with goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer, Maresca remains cautious. Chelsea's recent win moved them to third place, but Maresca insists they still have improvements to make.

Chelsea have been impressive at home, losing only one of their last 14 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge. Their 10 home wins in 2024 match their best record since 2021. However, Maresca believes they need more time to challenge the top teams. "We are not ready to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and City for many reasons," he stated. "The good thing is we are improving."

Meanwhile, Southampton manager Russell Martin is optimistic about his squad's depth as they prepare to face Chelsea. The Saints recently ended a nine-game away losing streak by drawing against Brighton. However, they will be without Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Tyler Dibling due to suspensions. Martin trusts his fringe players to step up in their absence.

Martin acknowledged the challenges posed by missing key players but remains confident in his team's adaptability. "We are probably without our five most consistent players," he said. Ryan Manning's recent performance after being out of the squad exemplifies the depth Martin relies on. He emphasised trust in both the players coming in and the team's tactical shape.

Adam Armstrong will be crucial for Southampton against Chelsea on Wednesday. Armstrong has scored in his last three home games across all competitions. The last Southampton player to score in four consecutive home matches was Charlie Austin in 2016.

Key Players to Watch

Nicolas Jackson has been pivotal for Chelsea this season, scoring early goals in four Premier League matches in 2024. He has contributed eight goals in his last eight away appearances for Chelsea, making him a key player against newly promoted clubs.

Chelsea have excelled away from home recently, winning six of their last eight Premier League matches on the road. Since May, no team has secured more away points than Chelsea (19). They have also been prolific against Southampton historically, scoring an average of 1.9 goals per game against them.

Match Prediction: Chelsea Favoured

The Blues have not failed to score in any of their last 18 away games against Southampton since December 1997. Although Southampton have won their last two league meetings with Chelsea, they have struggled at home recently with just four wins in their last 31 games at St Mary's.

The probability of a Chelsea win stands at 64.2%, while Southampton's chances are at 15.9%. A draw is considered less likely at 19.8%. With their current form and historical success against Southampton, Chelsea appear well-positioned for another victory.