Will Arsenal/Liverpool games define Chelsea’s title challenge?

Will Arsenal/Liverpool games define Chelsea’s title challenge?

The next week could see the Premier League title race blown wide open or with Chelsea firmly having one hand on the league title. The good thing from Antonio Conte side’s perspective is that it is all in their own hands. They will define how the next few months play out rather than their opponents on Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon.

After a confidence boosting 4-0 victory over Brentford in the FA Cup, following professional wins against Leicester City and Hull in the league, the Blues will be heading into these two crucial matches in good form, while facing two Premier League rivals in contrasting positions.

First up is Liverpool. The Reds have had an absolutely horrific month. With just one win in eight matches, they find themselves heading into the game at Anfield facing an unwanted record if they lose. If Chelsea manage a victory, it will be the first time in 94 years that they have lost four games in a row at home. It is certainly a defeat that Chelsea fans would relish if it were to come to pass, and the possibility of it happening is far likelier after the weekend results.

The Reds rested some of their key players for the 2-1 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup but their form in all competitions has followed a similar pattern. They dominate possession of the ball but find it very tough to break down teams that pack the defence. With a fragile backline they are especially vulnerable to counter attacks, and Blues fans will be hoping for a similar performance to the 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad in December where Antonio Conte’s men picked off Pep Guardiola’s side.

If they get through their match at Anfield unscathed, confidence will be sky high returning to Stamford Bridge next weekend to face Arsenal. Last time the two London rivals met, Antonio Conte’s side were a very different team to the one they are now. The Chelsea boss was struggling to get to grips with a back four, and the 3-0 defeat was by far the lowest point of this season so far.

Manager, players and fans alike will want to put that right at the Bridge. The three at the back has been more successful than even Conte would have imagined after switching to his favoured formation soon after that loss back in September. Arsenal will most likely be coming into the match after a win against Watford in the mid-week fixture.

Although the Hornets have beaten Manchester United at home this season, Walter Mazzarri’s side have failed to win in the league since a 3-2 win over Everton in early December. If Chelsea do their bit at Anfield, the gap may still be eight points heading into next week’s encounter.

The Blues have only lost once at home to Liverpool this season, and have many of the league’s big guns, including Arsenal, to visit Stamford Bridge in the coming months. Support from the home supporters is going to be vital in these matches, and on Saturday patience may be required against Arsene Wenger’s side.

The Gunners have been pretty weak in away encounters against the top six this season, but in their games against Manchester City and Manchester United it was clear they were set up to contain the opposition rather than to play more expansively. Conte’s tendency may be to err on the side of caution as well, making for a tight affair.

A 1-0 win however would set up Chelsea perfectly, and if they are able to come out in both games with six points, or even four, Antonio Conte’s side will have survived two crucial tests, and with it perhaps a double digit lead at the top of the table. The next week could well decide where the Premier League title ends up this campaign.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.