The 2024/25 Premier League season has reached the business end and Chelsea are one of the teams fighting to finish in the top four.
We take a look back through the Blues’ first season under Enzo Maresca to see how they ended up in their current position and whether they can secure a top-four finish.
Although the top five will all get Champions League football next season, finishing in the top four is often the minimum aim for a club as successful as Chelsea – the fans won’t be satisfied with a slip into fifth place.
Let’s take a look at how this season has unfolded at Stamford Bridge.
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Title contenders?
Before the 2024/25 Premier League season got underway, not many Chelsea fans would’ve told you that their side would compete for the title. That would all change when, after 16 matches, Chelsea found themselves just two points behind leaders Liverpool after an impressive run.
At the centre of this success was Cole Palmer, who as of the 16-game mark had 12 goals and five assists to his name, including an unbelievable four-goal first half against Brighton.
By this stage, Chelsea fans could have been forgiven for thinking Christmas had come early, but when the day itself arrived, things began to look a little less festive for the blue side of West London.
A bleak midwinter
A tough festive period began with a 0-0 draw away to Everton, before local rivals Fulham spoiled Boxing Day with a knockout blow from Rodrigo Muniz in the 95th minute. Including those two games, from December 22nd to February 22nd, Chelsea played 10 league games and picked up just nine points from a possible thirty.
The theme of this barren run was a failure to hold onto leads. The Blues took the lead against Fulham but came away empty-handed and also failed to win when going in front against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Manchester City and Aston Villa. All this meant that by February 23rd Chelsea sat seventh in the league, 21 points behind Liverpool at the top, but just one shy of City in fourth.
Turning point
Two favourable fixtures followed that run and Chelsea took advantage, beating Southampton 4-0 and Leicester 1-0, heading into a crucial game against Arsenal. It was not to be at the Emirates though, as Cole Palmer missed out through injury and Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 loss. Those six points in three games were enough to nudge Chelsea up to fourth, but even Bournemouth in 10th were only five points behind.
With the pressure on and the chasing pack not going away, Chelsea would put together a run akin to their early season form. Three points at home against Tottenham Hotspur, a formality in many fans’ eyes before the game even kicked off, lit the spark.
Draws against Brentford and Ipswich weren’t welcome and saw Chelsea slip behind City and Newcastle, but three consecutive wins leading up to today now see the Blues sit fifth in the league, only below Newcastle on goal difference, one point behind City and now just four shy of Arsenal.
Sunday’s 3-1 win over Liverpool will have helped their confidence no end ahead of a tough game at St James’ Park this coming weekend. Chelsea head to Newcastle as an even-money chance to finish in the top four, but those odds will tumble if they emerge with three points.
Enzo Maresca’s first season hinges on the next three games and Chelsea fans will expect nothing less than Champions League football next season.
