Chelsea have not lifted the Premier League title since 2017 and last season we finished sixth in the table, 28 points behind champions Manchester City and 19 from the top three.

We travel to last season’s third-placed side Liverpool on Sunday and Maresca was asked if this weekend’s clash was between two title rivals during his pre-match interviews, with the Blues currently fourth and only four points behind the league leaders after seven games.

Maresca said: ‘I have said in previous press conferences that I do not think in this moment that Chelsea are close to these kinds of clubs (Premier League’s top three) for many reasons but for sure we are working every day to be close to these clubs; but knowing that it requires us to work together day by day to approach and get close to that kind of club.’

Chelsea face Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal in their next four Premier League matches.

A journalist highlighted to Maresca that positive results over the next month will result in increased talk of Chelsea being title challengers and Maresca added: ‘The only way to try to be close is to focus on the things that we need to improve.

‘To think where we can be in four games, it is difficult, but we will try to do our best on Sunday to first of all play a good game and then to get points.’

Chelsea are unbeaten in the Premier League since the opening-day 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The Blues created chances and had penalty appeals turned down in either half - plus had a goal ruled out for offside – back in August but the game was ultimately decided by Erling Haaland's finish midway through the first half and a late strike from Mateo Kovacic.

With only one domestic defeat to his name as Chelsea boss, it would be fair to assume the Manchester City defeat was one of Maresca’s more disappointing afternoons in charge of the Blues. But you would be wrong.

Asked about the improvements his team have made since they ‘last faced a title challenger’, Maresca said: ‘I consider the City game our best game this season for many reasons. First of all, because I know City very well and secondly because I think we played a good game and we did not concede many chances against a team that score and have many chances.

‘We had many chances to score before they scored and after they scored. Unfortunately, we did not score. But I consider that game probably our best game.

‘Game after game we are improving different things for sure, but that game was a good game.’

September saw Maresca named the Premier League’s Manager of the Month after three victories and a draw, with Cole Palmer picking up the players’ prize.

The England international has already scored six goals and recorded five assists in the Premier League this season and a journalist compared the 22-year-old’s ability to ‘step up’ to that of City talents Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

‘Yeah but it is not only Cole,’ Maresca replied. ‘If we think that Cole is going to solve all of our problems then it is a big mistake because first of all we are putting all the pressure on his shoulders and that would be wrong for me. But also because we have Cole but we have many, many players who are doing well – Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto], Nicolas [Jackson], Christo [Nkunku], Enzo [Fernandez]…it is not only about Cole, it is about all of the players and all of the squad.’

Chelsea fans heading to Liverpool for Sunday's game are being encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative means of transport to rail on that day. Read why here.