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Momentum for Chelsea, Slump for Liverpool
As of Premier League Round 16, Chelsea are on a five-game winning streak and sit just two points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand—a tricky Merseyside Derby. Historically, Liverpool have only won twice away at Everton in the past decade. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s recent form has faltered with back-to-back draws against Newcastle and Fulham, conceding five goals in the process. The cracks in Liverpool’s armor are starting to show, and Chelsea are closing in on the top spot.
2. Squad Depth: Chelsea’s Luxury vs. Liverpool’s Struggles
Chelsea boast unmatched squad depth, capable of fielding three competitive lineups across the Premier League, Europa Conference League, and domestic cups. While their center-back and goalkeeper options are slightly thin, a swift January transfer window fix from Todd Boehly seems likely. In contrast, Liverpool are stretched thin. Injuries to key defenders like Konaté have exposed their frailties, with Robertson out of form and backup right-back Bradley sidelined long-term. Even Alexander-Arnold’s future remains uncertain. Expecting Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, to invest heavily in January? Liverpool fans would be lucky if they don’t lose Wataru Endo to budget cuts.
3. Favorable Schedule for Chelsea, Tough Road for Liverpool
Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures are a dream. They won’t face another traditional “Big Six” team until January 26 when they play Manchester City—a game they might even win given their current form. Liverpool, on the other hand, have a brutal run of fixtures, including matches against Tottenham, West Ham, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford. Add to that the demands of the Champions League and domestic cups, and Liverpool’s thin squad could struggle to keep up during the grueling festive period.
4. Unmatched Firepower
Chelsea lead the league with 37 goals, boasting the most potent attack in the Premier League. While Liverpool’s forward line is strong, it’s plagued by issues: Salah’s future is under constant speculation, and Nunez has failed to capitalize on Jota’s absence, scoring just twice in nine games. The £80 million Uruguayan has yet to justify his price tag.
5. New Manager Bounce and Young Talent Flourishing
Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have rediscovered their spark. Players like Sancho and Enzo Fernández have returned to form, while young stars such as Caicedo, Palmer, and Cucurella are making waves. Palmer, in particular, has become a standout performer, second only to Salah in goal contributions. Nicolas Jackson is also thriving, contributing to 11 goals in his last 12 home games, with his goal involvement per 90 minutes skyrocketing from 0.61 to 0.90—a 50% increase. Liverpool’s Nunez, by comparison, remains inconsistent and has fallen behind Jota and Díaz in the pecking order.
6. Tactical Mastery from Maresca
Maresca has brought a fresh tactical approach to Chelsea, centered on a 4-2-3-1 formation with seamless transitions into a 3-2-2-3 setup. His innovative use of Cucurella in midfield alongside Palmer has created a dynamic double pivot. Despite losing to Liverpool earlier in the season, Chelsea dominated key stats like possession, final-third touches, and passing accuracy (a record-breaking 88.1% for a visiting team at Anfield). Maresca has transformed Chelsea into a tactically flexible and dominant force in a short time.
7. Low-Key Leadership with High Emotional Intelligence
Despite Chelsea’s hot form, Maresca has repeatedly downplayed title talk, emphasizing that the team is still a work in progress. With an average starting XI age of just 23 years and 234 days—the youngest in the Premier League—Chelsea are building for the future. Under Maresca’s steady, emotionally intelligent leadership, this young squad is thriving without unnecessary pressure. Even if Chelsea don’t win the title this season, they’re undoubtedly one of the strongest contenders for future Premier League dominance.
Conclusion:
Chelsea’s momentum, tactical evolution, and squad depth have put them in prime position to challenge Liverpool for the title. As Liverpool face mounting challenges and a congested schedule, Chelsea’s path to the Premier League crown is becoming clearer. Whether they can seize the moment remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Blues are back in the hunt.