"Chelsea Are Definitely in the Title Race!"—Jamie Carragher disagrees Enzo Maresca

After Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham, the debate about whether the Blues are genuine Premier League title contenders has heated up. While Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists his team is not yet ready to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has voiced his disagreement.

Despite the narrow scoreline, Chelsea dominated the match against Tottenham. Spurs capitalized on a few Chelsea mistakes to score three goals, but Maresca’s team controlled possession and looked dangerous with almost every attack. Even when Chelsea went 2-0 down early in the game, they never seemed out of contention. The Blues made a comeback with four goals, sealing an important victory that solidified their position in second place ahead of Arsenal.

However, Maresca remains cautious. He continues to play down Chelsea’s title chances, saying the team isn’t yet on the same level as Liverpool or Manchester City. This conservative stance hasn’t convinced Carragher, who believes Chelsea are very much in the race.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher compared Maresca’s comments to the approach of Claudio Ranieri during Leicester City’s surprise title win in 2016. “Ranieri never wanted to admit they were in a title race. He would just say ‘Dilly ding, dilly dong’ to avoid the question,” Carragher said. He suggested that Maresca might be taking similar advice but argued that Chelsea are clearly contenders this season.

Carragher pointed Chelsea’s attacking strength and overall quality, but he did note a weakness in one key area—the goalkeeper. “Chelsea’s goalkeeper has cost them in certain moments. Even against Tottenham, there were clearances that could have led to goals,” Carragher explained. “You think about games like the one at Anfield, where Chelsea outplayed Liverpool but couldn’t capitalize fully. Liverpool were lucky to get away with a draw because Chelsea dominated.”

Carragher acknowledged that no team is perfect, not even Liverpool or Manchester City. However, he believes that Chelsea’s goalkeeper situation could hold them back in critical matches. “Liverpool and Arsenal’s goalkeepers are on another level compared to Chelsea’s,” he said. Carragher emphasized that while Chelsea’s outfield players are strong enough to compete for the title, goalkeeping errors in tight matches could prove costly.

While Maresca downplays Chelsea’s title hopes, Carragher firmly believes they are in the race. The Blues’ recent performances, particularly against Liverpool and Tottenham, show that they can compete with the best teams in the league. However, Carragher’s concerns about the goalkeeper raise questions about whether Chelsea can maintain consistency over the course of the season.