Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has admitted that the Premier League title is now Manchester City's “to lose".
Reigning champions City currently enjoy a 10-point lead at the top of the table after their 2-1 win at Arsenal the weekend was followed up by second and third-placed Chelsea and Liverpool drawing 2-2.
City needed an injury-time goal from midfielder Rodri to beat the Gunners — who had defender Gabriel Magalhaes sent-off in the second half — and manager Pep Guardiola admitted his team had been second best at the Emirates Stadium.
But that was City's 11th consecutive win and with their two main challengers for the crown drawing a day later, a fourth title in five years looks on the cards.
“It's a big gap, so they have the title maybe to lose at the moment,” said Van Dijk. “We just have to get results, play good football and win games. It sounds pretty easy but it's tough.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was absent for the match at Stamford Bridge due to a Covid-19 outbreak, along with Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip. And they now have to cope without their top goalscorers, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, for up to a month due as they head out for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Chelsea's record signing Romelu Lukaku was dropped after an interview with Italian media in which he talked openly of his frustrations in his first season back at the club and how he would like to return to Inter Milan in the future. The Blues will also lose goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to the Afcon, while first choice wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell face months out injured.
And City's relentless consistency offers little hope to their rivals that the gap will be closed easily. They have averaged a total of 95 points in each of Guardiola's three title-winning seasons in England and are on course to hit that mark again.
“We showed our champion mentality, we never give up,” said Rodri after his late strike at the Emirates kept City's winning run going.
“We know how tough it is to win the Premier League and we are not going to drop it. We don't look at the others much and winning 11 games in a row, it shows that we are focused on ourselves.”
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 2: player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 7 The Senegalese should have done better at the near post for Salah’s goal. He redeemed himself with a brilliant second-half save from the Egyptian. Getty -
Trevoh Chalobah - 4 The 22-year-old made an awful mistake and presented Mane with the first goal when he elected to head the ball rather than use his left foot. He made a good challenge to deny Salah and was replaced by Jorginho with 20 minutes to go. Reuters -
Thiago Silva - 7 The 37-year-old does not have a lot of pace but he used space effectively to cut out the danger. He was untroubled by Jota. EPA -
Antonio Rudiger - 5 The German went missing for Salah’s goal but won a robust challenge that led to Pulisic’s equaliser. There were spells when the game passed him by. AFP -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 7 The Spaniard was smashed in the face by Mane’s elbow immediately after kickoff and given a tough time by the striker afterwards. He stuck at the job. Reuters -
N’Golo Kante - 8 The Frenchman took charge of the midfield. He pressed hard, distributed the ball nicely and provided a great pass for the equaliser. Getty -
Mateo Kovacic - 8 The Croat took a while to get a foothold in the match but grew in stature throughout the first half. His splendid goal sparked Chelsea’s revival and he was excellent in the second period. AP -
Marcos Alonso - 6 The Spaniard was made to look daft by Salah for the second goal and had his defensive frailties exposed. He was better going forward and his fee kick led to his team’s first goal. Getty -
Mason Mount - 5 The 22-year-old was frustrated by his inability to find space. He was not as influential as normal and flirted with disaster with a silly flick of the foot at the prone Tsimikas. EPA -
Kai Havertz - 6 The German’s touch was poor but his pressing was effective and created an early chance for Pulisic. He never looked like scoring and was taken off for Hudson-Odoi with 11 minutes to go. Getty -
Christian Pulisic - 7 The American should have scored when presented with an early chance but took his goal beautifully. He was moved to wing-back as Chelsea changed their tactics. EPA -
SUBS: Jorginho - 6 The 30-year-old joined the action with 20 minutes to go for Chalobah. He gave the midfield a more secure look. Reuters -
Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6 The 21-year-old was brought on for Havertz in the 79th minute. He did not get enough time to use his pace against a tiring defence. Getty -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Caoimhin Kelleher - 7 The Irishman made two good saves to deny Pulisic. He was assured with the ball at his feet and had no chance with either goal. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5 The 23-year-old was fortunate to get away with a huge early mistake but his distribution was mainly good in the first half. A poor pass contributed to Chelsea’s equaliser. EPA -
Ibrahima Konate - 6 The Frenchman’s positioning was sometimes questionable but he was strong in the tackle and in the air. He battled on even after a knock on the head. EPA -
Virgil Van Dijk - 4 The Dutchman seemed disconnected from Konate. He was troubled by Havertz and jogged back for Pulisic’s goal. A poor performance. EPA -
Kostas Tsimikas - 7 The Greek gave Mount little latitude and was effective in defence. His attacking production was less impressive but he kept attempting to get forward. Getty -
Fabinho - 4 The Brazilian had a difficult afternoon. He was off the pace and too many of his passes went backwards. Getty -
James Milner - 4 The 35-year-old made a great challenge in the area to stop Mount but gave away a poor free kick that led to Chelsea’s first goal. He became more ineffective as the game went on and was replaced by Keita in the 69th minute. AFP -
Jordan Henderson - 4 The captain toiled away but to little effect. His passing was slipshod and he was left flatfooted by the Chelsea midfield. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7 The Egyptian scored a sublime goal against his former club and was denied another by Mendy’s fine save. He did not allow the defenders to settle. Getty -
Diogo Jota - 4 A lacklustre outing for the Portuguese. He was involved in the opening goal but it was one of the few occasions he made an impact. Taken off for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 69th minute. Getty -
Sadio Mane - 7 The Senegalese got away with a yellow card for an ugly elbow on Azpilicueta after six seconds. To add to Chelsea’s chagrin, he capitalised on Chalobah’s error to score the opener. A sparky, aggressive display from the striker, who was replaced by Jones in the final minute AP -
SUBS: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6 The 28-year-old replaced Jota with 21 minutes to go and brought an injection of energy to the team but produced little threat. PA -
Naby Keita - 6 The Guinean joined the fray for Milner in the 69th minute. He was busy and matched up well with the Chelsea midfield. AP -
Curtis Jones - 6 The 20-year-old came on in the 90th minute for Mane for his first appearance in two months. It was a welcome return to action. Reuters
