Liverpool manager, Arne Slot has admitted that he expected Chelsea would have challenged his team for the Premier League this season.
Slot spoke after Chelsea defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Liverpool are 19 points clear of the Blues who sit in 5th position on the Premier League table.
The Reds surged clear of their domestic rivals across the 2024-25 campaign to clinch a record-equalling 20th English league title.
They had lost just twice in the league by the time they wrapped up the title, amassing 82 points from 35 games.
Asked whether he expects Chelsea to challenge Liverpool for the title next season, Slot said at his post-match interview: “I expected them to be a threat this season.
“They were better than us at Anfield, they were so close to us. So it was a complete surprise to me that we are now 18 points clear of them, I didn’t feel that at all when we played them.
“But it tells you probably how well we did if a team like this, with so much quality in the squad, we can go clear of them. It is a big compliment for our players. Chelsea have so many quality players.”
