It was a big weekend for Chelsea's title ambitions with Arsenal and Liverpool failing to win what could be seen as routine home games, while Manchester City's slump continued with defeat big late in the derby against Manchester United.
Enzo Maresca's side beat Brentford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to make it five wins in a row in the Premier League and close the gap on leaders Liverpool to just two points. Chelsea are the formal team in the competition – going back further than you think.
Chelsea's form since May suggests they are in contention for the Premier League title
Chelsea are the form team now
Since beating Newcastle 3-2 in mid-March, nine months ago now, Chelsea have won more Premier League games than any other team. In fact, they have picked up 61 points in that time, six more than Arsenal and Manchester City. Seven more than Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino had started to show signs of turning things around this spring and Maresca has built on that momentum. Fears about Chelsea's consistency would appear unfounded. If they maintain the form of the last 28 games for the next 22, they can do it.
Man City's decline leaves an opening
One of the main reasons for hope is that Premier League titles are not won and lost in a vacuum, they depend on the efforts of others too – and Chelsea may not have to overcome the same level of competition to previous seasons.
Timing is everything when it comes to title tilts. Arsenal picked up 89 points last season but it wasn't enough. Liverpool has recently finished in second place despite recording 92 points and even 97 points. Man City's consistency changed the game.
But with Liverpool at the top of the table while on course for 91 points, it wouldn't be a big surprise if the final score needed to go into the 80s this time around. That presents a rare opening and Chelsea's form over a sustained period suggests they could grab it.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford
Cole Palmer can drive them to a title
Special players can make the difference and Chelsea boast one of the best in Cole Palmer. The England international has scored 11 goals in the Premier League this season, putting him behind only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah in the charts.
But scoring goals is only part of what Palmer brings to the Chelsea team, moving around the pitch to identify any way he can make things happen for his team. No player in the Premier League has created more chances than Palmer this season.
Cole Palmer has created the most chances in the Premier League this season
At 22 years of age, the responsibility has come early but he seems to be someone who carries that weight lightly, his Panenka-style penalty against Tottenham just the idea latest on the confidence he shows. He has the ability to drive Chelsea forward to the title.
The Champions League doesn't matter
The difference with Palmer is that he has been able to focus his energies on the Premier League and that could be a defining factor in this title race. Chelsea did not even register their star player to compete in the first level of the UEFA Conference League.
Contrast that with the way Saka and Salah have had to compete on multiple fronts this season, each playing more than seven hours of Champions League football as well as getting more minutes in the Cup Palmer's carabao. It should be more recent.
All 16 of his starts this season have been in the Premier League and that principle applies to Chelsea's other key figures. The Champions League is a tough competition and can take some of the focus away from domestic affairs this spring.
That is a challenge that Arsenal and Liverpool still have to navigate. For Chelsea, the priorities are clearer. Their previous Premier League title win under Antonio Conte came in 2016/17 when he was out of Europe entirely. There may be a chance for a repeat.
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Enzo Maresca suggests Chelsea are not ready for the Premier League title
Better squad depth at Chelsea?
Even if Chelsea have to move as the season progresses and injuries take their toll, the Conference League campaign could be more of a help than a hindrance. This has allowed Maresca to ensure that as many of his players are fit.
That can be a real problem elsewhere. At Liverpool, for example, Wataru Endo had only made a couple of starts in the Carabao Cup. Since his brief spell at West Ham last month, Raheem Sterling has been an unused substitute in Arsenal's last five games.
But Chelsea have already used 32 players this season, the European games giving Maresca the opportunity to give minutes to those on the fringes of the first team. It has worked well. Marc Guiu, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku have scored 15 goals between them.
As a result, there is more reason to believe that they will be ready to add to the Premier League team if needed. It has been a whirlwind of recent years at Chelsea. But hope is growing that it could be like a perfect storm instead.
