While Antonio Conte’s side are adding style to their solidity, Liverpool remain alarmingly open.
Fabio Capello says Chelsea’s solid defence means they have an advantage over Liverpool in the Premier League title race, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Jurgen Klopp’s swashbuckling Reds currently lead the way at the top of the table, their uber-attacking style yielding a series of thrilling results, a league-leading 30 goals and eight wins from eleven games.
However, after a slow period of adaptation under Antonio Conte, Chelsea have exploded into gear and are now just a point behind Liverpool in second, the Italian’s much-publicised switch to a 3-5-2 resulting in five consecutive Premier League win and five consecutive clean sheets.
Consequently, only Tottenham Hotspur have conceded fewer than Chelsea this season, with even David Luiz appearing a figure of composure and calm alongside a rejuvenated Gary Cahill and the ever-adapting Cesar Azpilicueta at the heart of the defence, while Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante offer a combative shield in midfield.
In comparison, Liverpool’s hopes of a first ever Premier League title appear to be resting upon their exhilarating yet flawed attempts to outscore the opposition, with even their 6-1 hammering of Watford undermined somewhat by haphazard defending.
And Capello, a firm exponent of Italy’s old-school brand of Catenaccio, believes the solidity of Chelsea will give them the edge in the business end of the season.
“Liverpool are spectacular. What is not known is how long it will last,” Capello, who’s tally of five Serie A titles, two La Liga crowns and a Champions League triumph was underpinned by rock-hard defensive fortifications, claimed, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
“Chelsea are solid. Conte is working well. To score against Chelsea is really difficult. For me that can happen until the end.”
Liverpool fans will be more than aware of the perils of such a buccaneering approach when a title is depending on it.
After all, Brendan Rodgers’ 2013/14 vintage might finally have ended the Merseyside giants’ long wait for a league crown if they hadn’t capitulated to throw away a three goal lead against Crystal Palace at the final hurdle.
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