'Very high' - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca makes new Premier League title race claim after Ipswich Town shock

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has admitted that he and his team were expecting a patchy run of form at some point this season after the Blues suffered a shock 2-0 loss at relegation-threatened Ipswich Town on Monday night.

Kieran McKenna’s side scored a goal in each half to clinch their first home win of the Premier League campaign and put another dent in Chelsea’s title hopes. After a 0-0 draw with Everton and 2-1 loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, Maresca’s side are now 10 points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand. They have also slipped to fourth in the table behind Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.

Liam Delap won and scored a 12th-minute penalty for Ipswich before former Chelsea player Omari Hutchinson found the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty early in the second half. Chelsea hit the post through Cole Palmer and also had one effort tipped onto the bar while Joao Felix saw a goal ruled out for offside. The visitors had 76 per cent possession and 20 shots but could not make it count.

Maresca ‘expected’ tough moment in title race

Chelsea boss Maresca has long been insistent that his side are not ready to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League title but still feels his team are moving in the right direction despite picking up just one point from the last nine on offer.

“We expected this kind of moment during the season because we know this kind of moment belongs to football,” said Maresca. “It is almost impossible to have a season where you don’t have a moment like now for us, but at the same time not one of us in this room expected us to be where we are now.

“This means and shows we are in the right direction, as I said many times, but also shows we are far from competing and consistency and to be there with the best teams in England. So, again, I think we are to be satisfied with where we are, but at the same time we have to know that we need to do many things better.”

Maresca impressed by ‘very high’ Ipswich desire

Given Chelsea’s dominance of the ball and number of shots, a clean sheet for Ipswich is all the more impressive. Ipswich’s penalty came after a rash challenge from goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, who had been named ahead of Robert Sanchez in the starting line-up. Sanchez was at risk of a one-game ban after being on four yellow cards. The second Ipswich goal was also self-inflicted as Hutchinson pounced on a loose ball from Axel Disasi before exchanging passes with Delap to score.

Maresca added: “It has been a shame because it was another chance for us, but congratulations to them because probably when you save so many goals – on the line, the keeper, the body – probably the desire from them was very high. I think we had so many chances first half and second half we started again the game in the same way with two clear chances. Then the second goal I think killed the game. Sometimes it is not the right day for us.”