Liverpool have felt like runaway leaders at times this season, but on Sunday they could be deposed at the top.
Chelsea have the chance to move to the summit of the Premier League for the first time in three years, having last held that position when they beat Watford in December 2021.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
15 | +18 | 36 |
| 2 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
16 | +18 | 34 |
| 3 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
16 | +14 | 30 |
| 4 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
16 | +2 | 28 |
| 5 |
Man City
MCI
|
16 | +5 | 27 |
The chance to claim top spot comes with their visit to Everton, now under new ownership, on Sunday.
A win at Goodison Park would lift them temporarily to the top of the table, at least until Liverpool play at Tottenham Hotspur later in the day.
Chelsea's chart-topping tradition
If Chelsea do claim pole position and Liverpool fail to beat Spurs, the Blues would be top on Christmas Day - and that could be ominous for their rivals.
After all, every time Chelsea have been top of the Premier League on 25 December they have gone on to win the title.
It happened under Jose Mourinho in 2004/05 and 2005/06, and 2014/15 in his second spell in charge. The same was true when Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte were at the helm in 2009/10 and 2016/17 respectively.
Chelsea fans enjoyed seeing their side at the top over Christmas; even more so when those campaigns closed.
PL seasons when Chelsea were top on 25 Dec
| Season | Manager | Final position |
| 2004/05 | Jose Mourinho | 1st |
|---|---|---|
| 2005/06 | Jose Mourinho | 1st |
| 2009/10 | Carlo Ancelotti | 1st |
| 2014/15 | Jose Mourinho | 1st |
| 2016/17 | Antonio Conte | 1st |
A different kind of Chelsea
Chelsea’s recent performances suggest a team that’s come together under Maresca’s guidance. Their youthful exuberance has forged a team that feels different from the title-winning iterations referred to above.
Even though his side are now within touching distance of top spot, Maresca downplayed the significance of their latest victory which extended their winning streak to five matches. Conceding a late goal against Brentford for a nerve-wracking finish at Stamford Bridge served as a reminder of the room for improvement.
Chelsea’s immediate task is simple: beat Everton and go to the top of the table, even if only for a few hours. Their longer-term focus will be on maintaining consistency.
Maresca's insistence that his team are not yet title-ready might be a deliberate attempt to keep expectations grounded. But the reality is that Chelsea have shown they can mix it with the best this season and Sunday's game is their latest test.
