Chelsea running away with Premiership title

Antonio Conte wants Chelsea to keep pushing towards the Premier League title – otherwise their rivals will sense an opportunity to pounce.

The Blues strengthened their hold on top spot with an authoritative 3-1 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

It left them nine points clear of Tottenham, who head a congested chasing pack and face fifth-place Liverpool today.

Chelsea have only lost once in the top flight since September and their head coach is keen for them to maintain this relentless approach to avoid giving any of their top-six counterparts a sniff over the remaining 14 games.

Speaking to the BBC’s Premier League Show, Conte said: “Now we are top of the table but this league is very tough.

“For me now it is important to continue to push and exploit this momentum.

“If you send the right signal for us and not for the other opponents it is very important.”
Chelsea travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Sunday.
Liverpool hopes
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana believes his side can learn from Chelsea and put a miserable start to 2017 behind them.

The Merseysiders have yet to win a Premier League match in 2017, taking just two points from a possible 12.

As a result Jurgen Klopp’s side have dropped out of the top four for the first time since September and are 13 points adrift of table-toppers Chelsea.

They managed a draw with Chelsea but their next match saw them beaten 2-0 at Hull last Saturday. Liverpool’s league losses so far this season - to Burnley, Bournemouth, Swansea and Hull - have all come against teams currently in the bottom nine.

By contrast, Chelsea have dropped just two points in 12 matches against the bottom clubs, with Antonio Conte’s side holding on to 1-0 wins away to Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Sunderland. “You can see they have a lot of experience and that they are used to winning,” said Lallana.

“They know how to win games even when not at their best. You don’t have to always win by scoring five or six.

“Maybe that’s an area we need to improve on. We maybe need to realise how good we are at times.”

Elsewhere, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged everyone connected with the Gunners to remain “united” despite seeing the club slip further behind in the Premier League title race.

Successive defeats by Watford and leaders Chelsea have left Arsenal 12 points off the summit and only one point ahead of Liverpool in the race for the fourth.

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP - TODAY
Arsenal vs. Hull (SS3/11, 3.30PM)
Sunderland vs. Southampton (SS2, 6PM)
Man Utd vs. Watford (SS3, 6PM)
Boro vs. Everton (SS5, 6PM)
West Ham vs. West Brom (SS6, 6PM)
Palace vs. Sunderland (SS7, 6PM)
Stoke vs. C. Palace (SS9, 6PM)
Liverpool vs. Spurs (SS3, 8.30PM)
TOMORROW
Burnley vs. Chelsea (SS3, 4.30PM)
Swansea vs. Leicester (SS3/11, 7PM)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Bournemouth vs. Man City (SS3/11, 11PM)