This favorable fixture list could allow Chelsea to close the gap on Liverpool even further and potentially overtake them in the title race. With the depth of their squad and their strong attacking prowess, they are certainly a team to watch out for in the coming weeks.
The Reds also have to face traditional big-six rivals Tottenham and Man Utd in that time – though both currently languish in the bottom half of the league – as well as Nottm Forest, who won at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The only three top-half teams Chelsea face come in the form of Brentford, Bournemouth and Fulham, with all three travelling to Stamford Bridge, and each an opponent the Blues will be confident of beating on their day.
That would, bizarrely enough, need to begin with a first-ever Premier League home win over the Bees this weekend, as Thomas Frank’s side have beaten them in all three games at Stamford Bridge since their promotion in 2021.
But this is a Chelsea side in the kind of form which it has been lacking in recent years, while Brentford are yet to win away from home this season.
The Blues’ run of 12 goals in three games to see off Aston Villa, Southampton and now Spurs has elevated them to the position of the division’s top goalscorers, four ahead of Frank’s Bees in an unlikely second spot.
Those goals have come from seven different scorers across the week, with Maresca fully showcasing the depth of his squad to allow 21 different players to feature in the 270 minutes of Premier League football.
Only Southampton, Man City and Ipswich have made more starting line-up changes this season, but it has not affected Maresca’s side in the same way as any of the trio given the strength of options he has in reserve.
The Blues’ other four games come against Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Everton and Wolves – all sides within five points of the relegation zone as things stand.
Chelsea are yet to be beaten by any side in the bottom half, and have a points-per-game record only bettered by their two title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool in games against teams outside the top 10.
Whether Chelsea’s points tally and form is enough to sustain a title charge for another 23 games will be tested in the new year, but Jamie Carragher thinks they will lack the quality defensively to lift the Premier League trophy in May.
Addressing their title challenge on Super Sunday, he said: It is real, because they are there. The big advantage for them is not playing in the Champions League, so Maresca can change the whole team and it’s still a proper team.
They’ve got six or seven forwards who you could arguably say are first choice.