Enzo Maresca admits he's aiming for Liverpool as Chelsea boss seeks return to old rivalry

But Blues boss warns his side are not yet "close" to being title contenders before Sunday's visit to Anfield

Enzo Maresca wants a return to Chelsea’s top-of-the-table rivalry with Liverpool but insists his Blues are not yet “close” to being title contenders.

The two clubs suffered a caustic relationship after Jose Mourinho claimed the Reds scored a “ghost goal” in the 2005 Champions League semi-final against Rafa Benitez’s side. The Reds enjoyed more success in Europe back then while the Blues won more trophies at home.

But since the American takeover at Stamford Bridge in 2022, Chelsea ’s only wins over Liverpool have been outbidding the Anfield club for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia during their billion pound rebuild.

And after a couple of epic title battles with Liverpool Manchester City against Arsenal is now growing into a new Premier League grudge match. But with Arne Slot’s Reds now top, Chelsea go into the weekend in fourth place after a run of seven unbeaten games during a spell of unprecedented calm in West London.

And former City assistant Maresca said: “Probably in the last five, six, seven, eight years, Liverpool were more contenders with City, they were always very, very close for the Premier League and even Champions League. But hopefully, we can be again both be there competing for titles.

“Is this a title clash? I don’t see, in this moment, Chelsea as close to these kinds of clubs for many, many reasons. For sure we work every day to be closer to that club.”

But Maresca claimed their opening weekend defeat to City was “our best game this season for many reasons” and have improved “different things” since.

And if Chelsea win at Anfield and then obtain good results in the following games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea, the Blues will be in the title race whether Maresca likes it or not. “To think where we can be in four games, it is difficult,.” he said. “But it's not this game that is going to define where we are.”

The Italian urged England’s new German manager Thomas Tuchel to watch the game of the weekend for entertainment - and to watch his Lions players in action.

And in very Pep style, Maresca said he would not stand in the way of Chelsea’s head of performance analysis James Melbourne and goalkeeping coach Hilário if they accepted invitations to join Tuchel’s staff. “We are open-minded in terms of allowing people to take chances and also we are happy to keep people who want to stay,” he said.

Club captain Reece James, who won the last of his 16 England caps in March 2023, is back in the squad after undergoing hamstring surgery last season. But Maresca said: “In this moment, we need to think to use him once a week." Both Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are suspended.

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