Ex-Everton defender Alan Stubbs says he has been “pleasantly surprised” by how well Chelsea have started the season.

Speaking to BestBettingSites.com, Stubbs said that Enzo Maresca’s side are a legitimate contender for fourth spot along with Aston Villa and Tottenham:

“I’ve been impressed with Chelsea’s start to the season. Not a lot of people have been talking about them in terms of having a good season and being successful, most of the stories about the club have been negative and focus on the money they have spent and the size of the squad.”

“They’ve assembled a good squad of players at Stamford Bridge and look dangerous when everything clicks. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by their start to the season.”

Chelsea are still a work in progress

There is no doubt that the Blues have begun the campaign more positively than many expected. 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from their opening 7 fixtures is not a bad return whatsoever.

Of course, things have not been perfect. Their home form has left a lot to be desired. The 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest before the international break means they have already dropped points three times at Stamford Bridge this campaign.

Maresca’s men will face a real test this weekend

Liverpool are the club’s next opponents on Sunday. The Reds are currently top of the table, having won 6 of their first 7 matches but it is fair to say that the Merseysiders have had a kind fixture list so far.

If Chelsea can go to Anfield and pick up some sort of result, it will solidify hopes that they can go on and compete for Champions League qualification at the end of the season. It will be very interesting to see how they fare against the current Premier League leaders.

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here