Chelsea started the campaign brilliantly after earning 29 points in the first 12 games of the season in the Premier League.
However, since an unlikely draw against Burnley, the Blues have started to drift away from the title race as Thomas Tuchel’s side are currently six points behind the league leader Manchester City.
The reigning Champions League winners are currently sitting in the third position with 38 points in 18 games. Liverpool is second with 41 points and Manchester City are top with 44 points.
The gap at the top is expanding every single game week for Chelsea and if it continues then the title race could be over for Thomas Tuchel’s side with a blink of an eye due to the relentless performances from the other two contenders.
Why are Chelsea struggling to win games in recent weeks?
The biggest problem is the injuries and the covid absentees. The Blues played with a depleted squad against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last games due to the aforementioned issues.
The most important player in the Blues squad is N’Golo Kante, whose work rate in midfield has been the catalyst of Thomas Tuchel’s recent success in the Stamford Bridge. But, the Pensioners were without the service of the Frenchman in the last few games due to injury. And the consequences of that, they lost nine points in the last six games.
Although the 30-year-old returned to the starting eleven in the last game, it was his first game after returning from an injury and he had to play a full 90 minutes, due to the other absentees.
Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku was bought to improve their quality in front of the goal. But the Belgian hasn’t been able to replicate the same performance in Stamford Bridge that he displayed for Inter Milan last season. The forward has struggled with his injury problems. And now has tested positive for Coronavirus which means he will have to remain sidelined for a few games as well.
Apart from them, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all sidelined due to injuries or Covid-19 issues. Mateo Kovacic was also out of action until made a cameo in the second half against Wolverhampton.
With so many players being out injured, it is extremely difficult to perform consistently for any side. So, the West Londoners will be hoping that these players will return to action as soon as possible to mount a title challenge this term.
The contract situation:
Chelsea has quite a few players whose contracts will expire at the end of this season and this could divert the focus of the players in this crucial situation of the season.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are all important parts of Thomas Tuchel’s first eleven. And their future is still hanging in the air. So, securing their future as quickly as possible might help Chelsea to get back to winning ways.
Relentless display from Liverpool and Manchester City:
Manchester City has always displayed astonishing performance in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola. The Citizens have won the league in back-to-back seasons with 100 points and 98 points. And if a team perform at that level, then it is extremely difficult to keep up with that level.
Guardiola’s side also made a terrific run in the middle of the season last term after making a bad start. And in the end, they won the title comfortably.
However, only Liverpool have managed to break the Citizens dominance in the league after lifting the title in 2019 with 99 points, having finished second in the season before with a record 97 points.
Therefore, if the other contenders perform at this level. Then it is difficult to win the title for any other team. Winning a league with 99 or 100 points is unbelievable. But, if it is required to do it every season. Then the team might just have to surrender and appreciate Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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