"I want you to put the word out there that we back up." One of the most memorable lines from TV history, and it's now relevant to Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca isn't letting himself play Idris Elba's iconic Stringer Bell (from crime drama 'The Wire', for the woefully uninitiated) just yet, but the rest of the world are watching. Chelsea are second in the Premier League and with a chance to go top, albeit temporarily, next weekend.

The club haven't been in this position since December 2021 under Frank Lampard. That was also the last time that Chelsea won six straight Premier League matches, a feat they will match if they beat Everton at Goodison Park in their next domestic assignment.

The blue half of Merseyside has been a torrid challenge in recent years but Maresca is making light work of those records. Already this season he has beaten Wolves, West Ham, and Bournemouth away from Stamford Bridge. They don't look tough in hindsight but are fixtures that worry Chelsea supporters more than most due to a history of frailty.

Brentford, the visitors on Sunday, had won each of their three games at SW6 since promotion under Thomas Frank as well. So, with Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points on Saturday and leaving Chelsea to extend their gap to fifth place and the Champions League chasers, as well as moving clear of third place and putting pressure on the summit, how can they not be in the title race?

Maresca believes that the nature of certain areas of performance (Marc Cucurella's stud-related issues at Tottenham, as well as problems in closing matches out matches at Leicester, Spurs, and then late on at Brentford, too) is evidence of why his side will fall short. 16 games in, though, and the team in second are going to be in the discussion.

It raises the question. Can Chelsea actually win the Premier League this season? Our writers have taken a look...

Bobby Vincent - Chelsea correspondent

It is going to be difficult for Chelsea but it is certainly a possibility - and who thought we would be saying that at almost the halfway point of the Premier League season? Maresca has done such a stellar job so far to even be at this point and it is understandable that he keeps playing down claims Chelsea will take the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal down to the wire.

However, the evidence is there. Chelsea have been that good this season that to rubbish suggestions they are in a title race is rubbish itself. Their attack is so, so strong that it has to be considered as one of the best in the division and with that logic, they will be there when May comes around.

It will be difficult to catch Liverpool, but there have been signs in recent games that perhaps Arne Slot's men are beginning to get a bit fatigued already.

Tom Coley

Nobody is going to truly buy that Maresca doesn't see his side in the title conversation because it cannot be ignored anymore, but realistically the club did not and do not expect to be here. They are still ahead of plan and can reasonably play the underdog.

Liverpool's early season control across competitions has rightfully see them emerge as clear favourites. Chelsea do have a bigger squad to help balance European competition throughout the second half of the Premier League, but does that make up for lacking experience and defensive solidity?

Players such as Virgil van Dijk and Allison are missing for Chelsea in their chase. For now they can pit themselves as the 2015/16 Leicester City (on a more expensive scale...). Chelsea are the outsiders finding themselves in the middle. If they keep players fit until the end then maybe they can be in the mix but it will be a serious challenge. Should Cole Palmer get injured, do Chelsea have the ability to sustain their results?

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More realistic is that Chelsea use this season as the 2013/14 campaign under Jose Mourinho, the 2017/18 Liverpool push from Jurgen Klopp, or Arsenal in 2022/23 with Mikel Arteta. It is the season before the real title talk starts. That's more than fine for this stage of Chelsea's development.

Keeping that mindset should help them extend this form into 2025 and maybe into the final quarter of this season. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them drop off and finish 10 or more points adrift, though, and that would be no major concern.

Will Jenkins

For Chelsea to win the Premier League it really requires two things. The first is that Enzo Maresca must maintain the fantastic form he has found in his rather expensive group of players. The second is to hope that Liverpool lose their momentum which, after draws to Newcastle and Fulham along with a poor victory over Girona in the Champions League, looks possible.

Maresca also finds himself in quite a fortunate position in regards to his European football challenge. Due to the 'easier' competition in the Conference League, the Italian manager has used it as a chance to rotate his team, giving youngsters a chance and starters a rest.

It will be interesting to see if there is a point where Maresca changes his tone on Chelsea's title chances. Although he may fear jinxing himself, the players are certainly playing with a freedom and confidence that surely makes them contenders.

Keifer MacDonald

Chelsea will not win the Premier League this season, no. Don't get me wrong, it has been a season of significant progress for the Blues and one that should have supporters excited about what Enzo Maresca can achieve in the long term at Stamford Bridge.

But it will be an almighty ask for Chelsea - whose squad has the youngest average age in the Premier League (23) - to emerge victorious in a title battle against a Liverpool side who have an abundance of experience when it comes to challenging at the top of the Premier League.

Of course, the lack of pressure could work in Chelsea's favour. But at the halfway point of the season, you'd be foolish to bet against Liverpool's England and European-winning spine of Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.

After such a turbulent few years, a place in this season's top-four would represent a hugely successful season for the Blues.