Having achieved Champions League qualification in Enzo Maresca’s first full season in the hot seat, 2024/25 ended in relative success for Chelsea, setting the stage for a possible title challenge in 2025/26.
Optimism among the Stamford Bridge faithful increased following a glorious run to the FIFA Club World Cup Final, which ended in a 3-0 dismantling of the kings of Europe, PSG. With a typically whirlwind transfer window bringing an array of new talent, including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Brazilian teen sensation Estevao Willian, could this be the year Chelsea claims top spot once again?
Early Setbacks
GET INNNNNNN!!!! ✊#CFC | #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/svGBQYFKSs
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 4, 2025
Following their triumph in New Jersey, a home clash with Crystal Palace presented a good opportunity to get their Premier League campaign off to a strong start. Seven match days later, that goalless draw with the Eagles doesn’t look too bad, with Oliver Glasner’s troops enjoying an excellent start to the season. Nevertheless, goalless draws at home are not the foundation of a title-winning campaign.
Chelsea then sprang into life with a 5-1 thumping of a beleaguered West Ham and a solid 2-0 verdict over Fulham. Unbeaten in three and in the winning groove, had the Blues begun their march to the top?
The next three games saw Maresca’s men come crashing back down to earth. A draw at Brentford has to go down as two points dropped for a side with title aspirations. The wheels then came off early, with Robert Sanchez’s dismissal contributing to defeat at Old Trafford. Further disciplinary woes followed at home to Brighton, with Trevoh Chalobah’s red card helping turn a 1-0 lead into a 3-1 defeat. Without a win in three, talk of Chelsea as legitimate title challengers seemed wide of the mark. And then came the Liverpool game.
Defending Champs Beaten at the Bridge
If Chelsea were to erase the memories of their early-season missteps and haul themselves into the race, they really needed a statement victory. However, not too many predicted that such a win would come against Liverpool. In the absence of Cole Palmer and with injury woes in defence, how would Chelsea cope with the reigning Premier League champions?
On the day, and considering their injury woes, Chelsea were exceptional. Taking a deserved lead through Moises Caicedo’s thunderous 14th-minute strike, the Blues were unlucky to lead by only one at the break. Then came the big test, as Cody Gakpo drew the Reds level just after the hour mark. Chelsea had played well, but with Liverpool growing into the game, the champions seemed on the cusp of finding a way to win yet again.
Of course, we all know what happened next. If you are going to win a game of football, particularly against a rival, there is no better way to do it than with a last-gasp strike. Step forward, Chelsea’s new 18-year-old wonderkid. Looking a threat from the moment he arrived in the 75th minute, Estevao popped up when it mattered to slot home at the far post in the 95th minute. Cue pandemonium among the home fans, a red card-inducing charge down the touchline from Maresca, and deflation in the Liverpool camp.
The Platform for a Title Push?
One win isn’t enough to confirm Chelsea’s title credentials, but this did feel like a pivotal three points. Had Chelsea lost, they would have found themselves 11 points behind pacesetters Liverpool. Instead, they return from the latest International break with only five points to make up on leaders Arsenal.
The task now is to build on this result in the four games before the November international break. That list includes a trip to a slumping Nottingham Forest, and home games against newly promoted Sunderland and rock bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers. A trip to Spurs is trickier, but it is easy to envisage Chelsea picking up between 10 and 12 points from their next four games.
Reasons to Believe
Overall, it is easy to view Chelsea’s start to the season in a positive light. The two defeats came when reduced to ten men, leaving the Brentford draw as the only obviously below-par performance.
If able to clean up their disciplinary issues and get a few players back from injury – particularly at centre-back – Chelsea could easily find themselves in contention over the crucial Christmas period and beyond. It’s also worth remembering that this is a young Chelsea side likely to improve as they grow more accustomed to the Maresca system.
Another factor in Chelsea’s favour is that this season already looks more open than many predicted. Liverpool look notably shaky at the back following their failure to get the Marc Guehi transfer over the line, while Manchester City are yet to rediscover the heights of their dominant era. It is harder to pick holes in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who have given every indication they will go close.
Chelsea’s November and February clashes with the Gunners may have a significant bearing on the strength of their title push. However, on the talent contained within their squad and overall performances, Estevao’s late, late show could be the moment Chelsea firmly entered the race.