After
winning 12 games on the trot, there aren't too many reasons for Chelsea's
title rivals to be cheerful at present.
But with just over half of the season left to play, and as we have seen all
too often in Premier League history, anything can happen.
How would injuries impact Antonio Conte's side? Could an abrupt end to their
winning run before breaking Arsenal's long-standing record reverberate for
weeks afterwards? And what about facing the sides around them at the top?
With the help of four Sky Sports pundits, we look for reasons to be hopeful
for those currently trailing Chelsea at the top of the table...
Gary Neville
I think the rest of them have just got to keep winning. They've got to put
pressure on Chelsea and believe that the cracks will come. They will drop
points.
They've all got to play them, they all have a responsibility to take points
from Chelsea, some in the coming weeks. I think ultimately it is still in
the hands of other clubs to damage them, take points from them.
At the moment Chelsea's spine looks so much stronger than other teams, and
if they can stay clear of injury, and with the fixture run-in they have they
are in a good position, but I would still say there is a lot of hope for the
other teams.
Thierry Henry
I just think at the moment, when you are in that run, things go your way all
the time. You have to give them credit for the plan, the way they play and
the structure. Whoever plays in that structure plays well all the time;
Pedro, Victor Moses, Marcos Alonso.
Yes, it is up to other teams to put on pressure, but they don't concede
goals, it's vital.
Jamie Redknapp
I expect Chelsea to beat Stoke at home, but that Tottenham game is the one,
that would be 14 games won and the record they are looking for.
I've just got this feeling that might be the game that turns it all around
for them. Because they are in great form, we all know it, but the one thing
when I look at the squad, is that they perhaps don't have the depth the
other teams do.
If they were to pick up just one or two injuries, maybe to Costa, it might
affect them.
But overall, they have been fantastic. Conte has done a great job. Hats off
to them.
Jamie Carragher
Chelsea are big favourites, and of course Liverpool are in with a shout.
With the run Chelsea are on, that doesn't happen often, and there's a reason
for that. That run will come to an end.
If I'm a Liverpool player, the manager, or at Man City or Arsenal, I'm
thinking we must keep the points gap as it is. The worry is if the gap gets
bigger. Keep it as it is for as long as possible, and Chelsea will drop
points, whether through a bad run of form or injuries.
Liverpool play them at the end of January, I'd be thinking if they can keep
them at six points until then, get them to Anfield. OK, there will be
pressure on Liverpool to win that game, but the longer the season goes on
there will be more pressure on Chelsea too.
It's up to those teams around them to take points off them.
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