In a season where competition for the Premier League title is intensifying, Liverpool manager Arne Slot has identified Chelsea as one of the primary contenders capable of challenging his side’s current lead.

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points over Manchester City after a commanding 2-0 victory against Aston Villa at Anfield.

The Reds have now won 15 out of 17 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 season under Slot’s guidance.

Despite their strong start, Slot has cautioned against overconfidence. The Dutch manager refused to label Liverpool as favourites, highlighting the strength of other clubs that have shown consistent performance.

Slot emphasized his respect for teams capable of maintaining high standards, including Chelsea, in a recent press conference.

When asked post-match whether being five points clear felt like a defining moment, Slot responded, “Because of the first reason – if you win it mostly doesn’t get better than that and yeah, you know if you win the amount of games we do, you can be ahead.”

Slot further explained his view of the competitive landscape in the Premier League this season, mentioning Chelsea explicitly as a major rival in the title race.

He said, “It’s not sure yet in this league because Arsenal, City, Chelsea, all these clubs that are playing in this league, they are able to win so many games as well and that’s what they have shown in the last few seasons.”

Slot’s cautious approach underscores his awareness of the strength across the league, as Chelsea has been particularly formidable this season with their promising squad and strategic gameplay.

Slot’s respectful nod to Chelsea as a strong competitor comes as a boost to Chelsea fans, who hope to see the Blues fighting for the title in what has been a challenging yet exciting season.