Chelsea have proved Enzo Maresca right: Blues' avoidable festive blip shows they aren't serious title challengers - yet

Come the end of the season, Chelsea may well look back on the last two games as the point where any semblance of a title challenge slipped away from them, even if the head coach and his players have publicly denied they are in the race.

Had they been three or four points better off after the clashes with Everton and Fulham they would still be applying pressure to table-topping Liverpool in second place and their top-four status would be more or less secure.

However, off the back of a draw and a defeat they will be looking nervously over their shoulder having slipped to third courtesy of Arsenal's victory over Ipswich on Friday.

In many ways, the defeat in the west London derby - their first at home to Fulham in the Premier League era - saw Chelsea's chickens come home to roost, as a number of recurrent issues ultimately cost them in a big way.

Having dominated the first half, the Blues completely lost control of proceedings in the second period as they allowed Fulham to play to their strengths, failing to add to or protect a slender lead.

Loss of control has often been a problem for Chelsea this season, and although they have weathered past storms against the likes of Leicester and Brentford, they were unable to navigate this one.

This is not a trait you associate with a team harbouring hopes of being crowned Premier League champions.

To his credit, Maresca pointed to that shortcoming at full-time, rather than attempting to shift blame. "I think the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half was the part I didn’t like, because we conceded too many transitions and we knew they are a team building from transitions, with [Alex] Iwobi, Adama [Traore], [Antonee] Robinson and [Raul] Jimenez," he said.

"In the first half I felt we controlled that very good, we scored and created chances, then in the second half I think we gave them too much energy in the first 15 or 20 minutes."

He continued: "For sure we can manage the game better because, as I said, we knew that they are very good in transition. It is difficult to find a team like them with so many players that can run a lot. I think in the first half we controlled that well. In the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half, we didn’t control that."

The nature of the Cottagers' two goals will have been intensely frustrating too, as two more of Chelsea's most significant flaws were exposed.

First, a ball-watching backline was caught narrow to allow Harry Wilson to ghost in and nod home from mere yards out after a deep cross was headed back across goal - an example of the kind of defensive lapses the Blues have been prone to in 2024-25.

Then, after countless heart-in-mouth moments this season, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez once again paid the price for some poor kicking, as an aimless long ball was seized upon by a Fulham player, which led directly to Muniz's winner in the fifth of six added minutes.

"Yes, there is some frustration, especially for the way we conceded the goal at the end," Maresca admitted after the game.

One benefit for Maresca is that Chelsea's mini-slump should put an abrupt end to incessant questions over being in the title race; these results prove the Italian's repeated insistence that his side 'aren't ready' for that just yet.

Arsenal have capitalised on their slip-ups like a proper title challenger would, re-establishing themselves as the team that is best placed to chase down Liverpool at the top of the table.

Realistically though, six points clear with a game in hand over their rivals, it's already looking unlikely that anyone will be able to halt Arne Slot's red juggernaut, as it continues to swat aside all that stand in its way.

The players know that this mini-slump changes nothing in the grand scheme of things, despite the disappointment.

"It’s a good opportunity to learn, rest, recover, and play in three days," a philosophical Cole Palmer said after the game, having netted a sublime individual goal to open the scoring.

"We just keep going now. We knew we weren’t going to win every single game we play. It’s the manager’s first season with us and we’re learning.

"Everyone has said from the start we’re not a title contender, we’re just playing, winning, getting better as a team, growing, and that’s what we’re doing."

What's most important now is that this blip does not become anything more than that. After weeks of scrutiny and questions over title aspirations, Chelsea can actually use this dip in form to refocus and re-evaluate.

While a title challenge should now be considered unrealistic, the Blues have already overachieved and are well on course to accomplish their long-term aim of returning to the Champions League at the first time of asking under Maresca.

Consolidating their top-four place and maintaining a comfortable gap to those below should now be the priority, with favourable festive fixtures at Ipswich and Crystal Palace still to come.

Whatever else they pull off between now and the end of the season will be a bonus if they can prime themselves to capitalise on any slips from Arsenal or Liverpool.