Manchester City and Liverpool show Chelsea where they must improve to win Premier League title

After Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League heroics against Manchester City last season, there was tangible hope of Chelsea competing for the Premier League title this campaign.

While the Blues started well, leading the way in the opening stages of the season, they have since fallen off in their pursuit of lifting the trophy.

Tuchel’s men currently sit 13 points behind league leaders Manchester City and seven points behind Liverpool, though they do have one game in hand over the Citizens.

The German coach came out before the Crystal Palace game to rubbish his side’s chances of winning the league this season.

He said in his pre-match press conference: "Sixteen points sounds too much, is too much, compared to where we want to be and what we demand of ourselves. But it's the reality.

"To reach our targets, a realistic approach is also necessary so we should not get confused in thinking about winning the Premier League.

"Still, we have to realise we are in a race for the top four right now which is a huge thing in the Premier League in general."

Despite the large gap between Chelsea and the league leaders, the Blues have the same number of defeats as them in the league with three all season.

The two sides also have a similar defensive record, with City only conceding one less goal with 17 goals against.

It certainly suggests that Tuchel is doing something right on that side of the game, the concern comes from where the points gap has developed.

Comparing the two sides again, Chelsea have drawn eight matches this season, while Pep Guardiola has only overseen three stalemates.

It means that so far this season, going on points per game, the Blues are dropping one point on Manchester City nearly every other game.

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