Chelsea’s title hopes debated by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer who are left in stitches

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer shared a good laugh as they re-evaluated Chelsea’s sudden realistic prospects of clinching the Premier League title, after initially ruling out their chances completely at the start of the campaign.

The Stamford Bridge faithful could be on the verge of witnessing something special with the previously moderate expectations of the west Londoners being defied. Chelsea are currently sitting second in the Premier League table, however, the five-time Premier League title winners did miss the chance to at least temporarily leapfrog Liverpool at the top after a goalless draw with Everton on Sunday (December 22).

Liverpool also opened up more of a gap on the same day after a dramatic encounter with Tottenham Hotspur, that ended in a 6-3 win for Arne Slot’s men, leaving them four points clear of the Blues with a game in hand. Among Chelsea’s doubters to make a bid for the title were Lineker and Shearer, who didn’t consider them realistic contenders for the top-flight crown.

On their podcast ‘The Rest is Football’, the iconic England duo – joined by Micah Richards – were left to recently deliberate whether Chelsea could actually seize their first Premier League title since 2017. It prompted Shearer to humorously state: “Not according to us three”, alluding to their initial dismissal of the Blues’ potential.

It left them in fits of laughter, and Lineker then said: “I don’t think many Chelsea fans tipped them at the start of the season to win the league”, before Shearer outlined his scepticism about Chelsea’s chances of beating Liverpool and Arsenal to the top spot come May.

“In the position they’re in, it’s very difficult to turn around and say a definite no, I still think they’ll have a little blip and I don’t expect them to win it, but they’re having an unbelievable season,” the 54-year-old said (via the Mirror).

Richards chipped in, expressing his amusement at Maresca’s own denial that his team could clinch the league title. He said: “Well [Enzo] Maresca said they can’t win the league because of their defensive errors, I don’t know if he’s playing mind games here, is he using reverse psychology here? I like what he’s doing, the team is performing.”

The Italian manager has clearly influenced his players, with Noni Madueke echoing his sentiments by denying his team are in a title race during an interview. Speaking to the BBC, the England international said: “I don’t even know what that is. I don’t think so. We are just competing with ourselves, trying to improve and be better every day.

“For that title race talk, what in December? I am not indulging in that. The race hasn’t even started. If I had a crystal ball, I’d tell you, but I don’t have a crystal ball, so I don’t know.”

Chelsea face west London rivals Fulham on Boxing Day at Stamford Bridge, while Liverpool host struggling Leicester City the same day. Arsenal, meanwhile, welcome Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium on Friday 27.