Chelsea are well in the Premier League title race this season. That's something no one would have expected before the start of the campaign.

The Blues may well have dropped two points in a goalless draw with Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, but they are still in the mix and remain Liverpool's closest challengers. Chelsea are second in the table, four points behind Liverpool, although they have played a game more than the Reds.

Chelsea actually ended the season very well under Mauricio Pochettino last season so it was something of a surprise to see him and the club part ways, with Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali opting to bring in Enzo Maresca instead.

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Maresca had just won the Championship with Leicester, but this would be his first season in the hotseat in the Premier League. He has taken to it like a duck to water though.

One of the players thriving under him is Noni Madueke and the forward admitted that "something crazy" has happened this year.

Speaking to Ben Foster for Amazon Prime, Madueke said: "Everyone feels like something crazy has just changed this season, of course Enzo Maresca is a great tactical manager, but it's largely the same players.

"But guys have got that Premier League experience, that first 12 to 18 months and you're just seeing the talent flourishing now and players are more comfortable in the league."

Madueke admitted that the Chelsea fans can "get excited" about a Premier League title challenge, but he has played down the chances of it happening.

He added: "It's still very, very early to be talking about title races I feel, although of course we're doing really well. The gaffer doesn't necessarily say 'don't talk about the title', he's just making sure we stay focused on the next game because really and truly the only way to win the title is to accumulate the most points."