Enzo Maresca fears Liverpool could be ‘impossible to catch’ in Premier League

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca fears it could be “impossible” for any team to stop Liverpool from retaining their Premier League crown.

Arne Slot’s champions have already established a five-point cushion at the top of the table following an unblemished start to their title defence.

After a 2-2 draw at Brentford, and then a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, Chelsea are already seven points off the championship pace.

Liverpool secured the title last season with four matches to spare and then broke their transfer record twice this summer to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, in a deal which could rise to £116million, before spending £125m on Alexander Isak on deadline day. In all, the Reds spent over £400m on new signings.

Maresca admitted: “If they continue in this way I think it is impossible to catch them, not just for us, but for all the clubs.

“They have been doing a fantastic job since last year, and the players they have decided to buy shows the intention of the club to go again for the Premier League and the Champions League, and that is quite clear.”

Chelsea, winless in three matches after also losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week, face Lincoln in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.