Jason McAteer has been impressed with the job Frank Lampard has been doing at Chelsea this season but does not consider them title contenders.
The Blues have won their last six Premier League games and have moved up to third in the table, ahead of reigning champions Manchester City.
They are still eight points behind leaders Liverpool, and level with second placed Leicester, 12 games into the 2019/20 season.
And former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland midfielder McAteer doesn’t belief Chelsea have what it takes to be serious contenders this season.
He told the Racing Post: “I still think there will be a title race and it will be between Liverpool and Man City.
“What Brendan Rodgers is doing at Leicester is outstanding and the job Frank Lampard is doing at Chelsea is probably even more impressive.
“I remember speaking to Frank when Chelsea and Liverpool played the Super Cup in Istanbul and you could hear his concerns.
“Where were the goals going to come from? Could Mason Mount do for Chelsea what he had done for Derby? Would he miss Antonio Rudiger? But he and his players have answered all those questions and more.
“I’m a big fan of Frank and think Chelsea can continue to improve but they aren’t title contenders this season.”
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He continued: “Teams such as Chelsea and Leicester could easily go on a run of back-to-back losses, or picking up just a couple of draws in three matches, and that can lose you serious ground given the high standard set by Liverpool and City.”
When Chelsea return from the international break they face a tough trip to fourth placed Manchester City on November 23.
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