Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri rules Tottenham out of Premier League title race

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has ruled Tottenham out of the Premier League title race despite leapfrogging champions Manchester City on Boxing Day.

Sarri has maintained throughout the season that Chelsea, despite winning the title just 18 months ago, are some distance away from challenging.

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Instead, Sarri sees league leaders Liverpool and reigning champions City as the only true title contenders despite the achievements of Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham.

“You know very well my opinion. As I said from the beginning of the season there are two teams a step above, Liverpool and Manchester,” he said.

“Now there is a little gap, I think City will be able to recover the gap, the title is fighting between City and Liverpool."

Liverpool host Arsenal on Saturday evening as their final game of 2018 after Tottenham welcome Wolves to Wembley. Chelsea and City are in action, against Crystal Palace and Southampton respectively, on Sunday.