Chelsea’s perfect start to the season ended at five straight wins as the first points were dropped at West Ham. It means Liverpool go top of the Premier League as they managed to put three past Southampton to take maximum points from their opening six games. “They are a step forward of us at this moment … We have to work then maybe in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool,” said Sarri.

I totally agree with his statement. I don’t think the team is ready to weather every storm they need to if they want to win the title this season. As Sarri explained, Man City and Liverpool have had more time together, to build and become the teams they are right now. Sarri has been at Chelsea for less than two months, and will need more time to get onboard with his style and philosophy. He admits the teams is already showing improvements defensively, but more work is needed to improve in attack.

But this is the Premier League and time is never on your side when it comes to delivering top performances by a top team. The star man Hazard is looking happy again and that is exactly why it would not have made sense for Chelsea to let him go in the summer. He is scoring and he’s now the player with the experience and that level of responsibility in the dressing room and on the field that most big players have.

These players dominate with their football as much as they do verbally, and I think it all started to emerge with the Belgium national team. You would hear news come out of the Belgium camp about what he was saying and I thought, yes that is a captain.

Now it is time for the team to push on because this weekend is the game everyone has been looking forward to. The blues play Liverpool twice this week and the Carabao Cup game on Wednesday night will be a dress rehearsal for the big Premier League clash. It will be a big test for Chelsea, especially with the striking force that Liverpool possess. All players know how enjoyable it is to play against your old team as you try to show them what they are missing. Salah will the one doing whatever it takes to get Liverpool the win at Stamford Bridge and his battle with Alonso will be interesting.

We all know about Alonso and his qualities going forward because his goals and creative attacking ability are a joy to watch. But this weekend it will be his defending and pace that will be tested, and if Luis comes over to help they will both have their hands full. I always looked forward to playing against Liverpool because every club with a great history is so much more enjoyable to beat.

#mmlove