Chelsea will be strong but still have some catching up to do
Chelsea have made a promising start to the season but still have a way to go to match the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
As any football odds comparison will show, City and Liverpool remain the most-fancied teams for the Premier League title this season – and that’s hardly surprising given how strong they have been in recent years.
For Chelsea it’s not just a case of playing catch-up, but also avoiding being caught by the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal, whose transfer business has been impressive. The two north London sides look very well placed to battle for a top-four finish.
But Chelsea remain a force to be reckoned with and could yet emerge as genuine title contenders over the course of the campaign.
Revamping the defence
The biggest task facing Blues boss Thomas Tuchel was to replenish in defence following the summer departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, who both left Stamford Bridge on free transfers when their contracts expired.
The threat of Cesar Azpilicueta also leaving was averted – the captain signed a new contract despite interest from Barcelona, with the club having made it clear they did not want him to go.
The additions of Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly have been a big boost, and with Tuchel determined to bring in another central defender before the transfer window closes, the squad looks like being strong. Signing Wesley Fofana from Leicester would definitely be a quality addition.
Attacking concerns?
In attack, the club perhaps have work to do though.
Signing Raheem Sterling from Manchester City was a great move, but the lack of a genuine striker surely needs to be addressed – especially with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner having left.
Kai Havertz established himself as a better option up front than both Lukaku and Werner las season, but there are still question marks over whether Chelsea can challenge City and Liverpool without a genuine number nine in their ranks.
City snapped up a class act in Erling Haaland, who will make them even stronger, while Liverpool continue to boast an array of attacking talent. That’s largely why those two teams are again expected to finish in the top two this season, with Chelsea again looking to close the gap.
Chelsea do carry plenty of attacking menace, with Sterling and the likes of Mason Mount sure to chip in with goals and assists, but the lack of a focal point up front could be a barrier to a title challenge – unless of course it is addressed before the transfer window closes.
