Maresca's Chelsea no longer title outsiders with top spot in reach

LONDON : Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been at pains to play down the club's chances of winning the Premier League in his first season in charge but if they beat Everton away on Sunday then, for a few hours at least, his side will top the table.

The Italian's insistence that Chelsea are not ready to win their first title since 2016-17 is understandable given that few predicted a realistic challenge by the London outfit this term.

But the evidence so far suggests that what the Italian says in public and what he actually believes are not aligned.

With a deep and richly-talented squad , which according to website transfermarkt has a combined market value of more than 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion), at his disposal, Chelsea look more than capable of taking the fight to leaders Liverpool.

Ahead of the Goodison Park trip, Chelsea are the Premier League form team. They have won six and drawn two of their last eight games and are top scorers with 37 goals from 16 games.

Victory would lift Maresca's side to 37 points, one more than Liverpool who have a testing trip to Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday.

'REAL DEAL'

Chelsea's form is no flash in the pan. Even before Maresca arrived to replace Mauricio Pochettino, the signs were there that this expensively-assembled squad were beginning to gel.

Since mid-March, Chelsea have won more Premier League games than any other team, picking up 61 points, six more than Manchester City and Arsenal and five more than Liverpool.

"They are the real deal," Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said. "When you listen to the manager speak, and he said it at the start of the season in his job interview, he said this team can be really successful in the next two, three or four years because of the age profile