Frank Leboeuf insists Chelsea aren’t in the Premier League title race, despite pulling to within seven points of leaders Liverpool following last night’s crushing 5-1 win over Southampton.
The Blues continued their fine run of form on the south coast, crushing the relegation threatened Saints with a devastating display which means they ended the night as the division’s top scorers.
Arne Slot’s men, meanwhile, dropped two points following a pulsating 3-3 draw at Newcastle that has left the door slightly ajar for the chasing pack.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has repeatedly insisted, however, that his fledgling team are unlikely to last the pace this term and Leboeuf agrees, maintaining that the title race will eventually boil down to a straight fight between Arsenal and Liverpool.
‘In the title race I still put Arsenal and Liverpool,’ the former Chelsea defender told ESPNFC.
‘I think City is going to struggle. I don’t have Chelsea in the title race. Only Arsenal and Liverpool for me. I want to be cautious. Arsenal can react well and if Liverpool start losing points like today.
‘They should’ve won that game even if it was a fair result at 3-2 they should have won.
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‘Chelsea, I want to be cautious because they are still young players and the confidence can easily lose it because of the inexperience.’
For now, however, the confidence is flowing and with goals coming from all areas of the squad, Maresca’s side will offer a genuine threat and will, at the very least, challenge for the top four.
‘We said, if you remember from the beginning of the season, the way we played with the two wingers, the two attacking midfielders and the No.9 are in charge of the goals,’ said the Chelsea boss when asked about the potency his side possesses.
‘You can see the goals from Noni, from Cole, from Jadon, from Nico, Christo – they are all attacking players and it’s a good feeling that all of them can be involved in the goals.
‘I think there are just three or four teams that have conceded less than us. So we are very happy.’