Cole Palmer has telling response to Chelsea title question as new contender emerges for Liverpool

Cole Palmer played down Chelsea's title chances after Enzo Maresca's side moved up to third in the Premier League table with a routine victory over Aston Villa.

Only Liverpool has picked up more points than Chelsea, with Arsenal in second place on goal difference, but the gap between first and second is relatively seismic for this stage in the campaign.

Arne Slot's Reds have picked up nine more points than both Arsenal and Chelsea, yet Palmer was asked if his team is in the title race, to which he responded: "Nah, it's too early, man."

Maresca also played down talk of a title talk ahead of this weekend's round of fixtures, saying: "No [Chelsea are not in the title race], I said it many times. I really like the pressure. I'd like to say: 'Yes, we're there' - but we're not there.

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"It's nice to see the team improving, that is important; it is nice, a good feeling. At the same time, you need to be realistic, and you can see the difference between us and the rest at the moment.

"This doesn't mean we're not going to win games and not compete until the end, but the main focus has to be the feeling we're improving game after game.

"Arsenal is five years together [with manager Mikel Arteta], City more than eight years together [under Pep Guardiola]. Liverpool is a bit different, but they didn't make many changes from the past. This is the reason. It's not about points or difference in the table, it's just the time together."

Gary Neville, meanwhile, thinks Arsenal will be Liverpool's main challenger this season as he also ruled Chelsea out of title contention following Sunday's games.

"It feels too early for Chelsea, that’s why I don’t put them level with Arsenal even though they’re on the same number of points," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.

"It doesn’t feel like Chelsea will go on and win it. I still think it’s going to be Arsenal if anyone does catch Liverpool. But Chelsea are having a fantastic season. Maresca has got stability there which has been hard to find recently.

"Chelsea are doing really well so well done to the manager for bringing that level of calmness to the club because it’s been mad and chaotic over the last few seasons.

"For the first time in a while it feels like it’s settled down, so well done to Maresca and well done to the players. The owners will feel a little bit more calm at this moment in time. But I don’t feel that they’re in the title race, I don’t sense that really."