Eden Hazard Names Liverpool As Primary Title Challenger

After Liverpool topped Chelsea, 2-1, in September, the Blues have streaked to the top of the Premier League table with seven wins and just one defeat. On Saturday, they beat Tottenham 2-1.

That has attacker Eden Hazard confident his side can stage a title challenge, although he named the Reds as one of the main roadblocks to that objective.

"Man City and Liverpool [are our biggest competitors]," he said (via the Echo). "They're both good. If we want to be there at the end we have to finish above them."

While some might point to Chelsea's earlier losses to Liverpool and Arsenal as examples of the club's shortcomings, Hazard insisted that such an assertion would be unfair. And, to his credit, he's probably right.

"Two months ago we went to Arsenal and we weren't ready," Hazard said. But now we know what we have to do ... We don't want to stop now. We want to keep going like this. We want to win every game.

"Everyone is confident. We are winning games, playing well, creating chances. Everyone is involved and that's the key to the success," he added.

Whether Chelsea can best Liverpool (and other top teams) over the course of a long campaign remains to be seen, but it's clear they are back to being a force after a one-year hiatus. Furthermore, their January 31st matchup at Anfield is sure to be a pivotal affair in the title race.