Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca seeks return to old rivalry with Liverpool amid title admission

Chelsea are seven points behind table-toppers Liverpool ahead of their trip to Anfield on Saturday and Enzo Maresca insists his side are not yet in the title race

19 Oct 2024, 10:26 by Bruna Reis, Neil McLeman · football.london

Enzo Maresca has expressed his desire to reignite Chelsea's fierce rivalry with Liverpool, but admits the Blues are not yet on par with title contenders.

The clubs' relationship turned sour after Jose Mourinho's "ghost goal" comment in the 2005 Champions League semi-final against Rafa Benitez's Liverpool. While Liverpool found success in Europe, Chelsea dominated domestically.

However, since the American takeover at Stamford Bridge in 2022, Chelsea's victories over Liverpool have been limited to outbidding them for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia during their billion-pound rebuild. Despite a new Premier League rivalry forming between Manchester City and Arsenal, with Liverpool currently leading the pack, Chelsea sits in fourth place following seven unbeaten games and a period of unusual tranquility in West London.

Maresca, a former City assistant, reflected on the past competition, saying: "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."

He also tempered expectations about Chelsea's current status: "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."

Maresca has boldly proclaimed their opening weekend loss to City as "our best game this season for many reasons" and recognises improvements in "different things" since. And with a Chelsea victory at Anfield that could spark a series of positive outcomes in forthcoming matches against Newcastle and Manchester United.

Maresca acknowledges that the Blues might thrust themselves into the title contention regardless of his preferences. "To think where we can be in four games, it is difficult," he remarked. "But it's not this game that is going to define where we are.

The Italian also took the opportunity to suggest England’s new German manager Thomas Tuchel should keep an eye on the upcoming match for sheer entertainment, as well as to observe his Lion stars in play. In a move reminiscent of mentor Pep Guardiola, Maresca expressed an open-minded approach when it comes to staff, saying he wouldn't hinder head of performance analysis James Melbourne and goalkeeping coach Hilario from possibly joining Tuchel at Chelsea.

"We are open-minded in terms of allowing people to take chances and also we are happy to keep people who want to stay," Maresca continued.

Club captain Reece James is making his return to the squad post-hamstring surgery last season, and though he gained his 16th England cap back in March 2023, Maresca insists: "In this moment, we need to think to use him once a week."

He also noted that both Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are currently serving suspensions.