Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has tipped Chelsea as the team most likely to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title this season.
Petit described Chelsea as the “dark horse” in the title race, citing their depth and strong performances under manager Enzo Maresca.
The Blues currently sit third in the league, nine points behind table-toppers Liverpool, and have suffered only three defeats this season.
Speaking to Gambling Zone, Petit dismissed the idea that Arsenal are Liverpool’s sole competitors, pointing instead to Chelsea’s form and favorable fixture list.
“Are Arsenal the only team who can catch Liverpool? To be honest, no,” Petit said.
“I was with another former player the other day, and they said Chelsea have no chance, but I disagree.
“Chelsea have played against almost every big team so far this season. Their schedule looks favorable now, and they’ve been excellent under Maresca. Everyone is forgetting that Chelsea have the strongest squad in the Premier League.”
Petit highlighted Chelsea’s advantage of not competing in the Champions League, which could help them capitalize on their squad depth and maintain consistency during a busy schedule.
“With other clubs playing in the Champions League and every three days, Chelsea have a strong opportunity to make up ground. It’s only December, so do not count them out yet,” he added.
Liverpool leads the league with Arsenal and Chelsea in close pursuit. With Chelsea’s impressive form and a lighter fixture load, Petit believes they could emerge as serious contenders as the season progresses.
