Marco Materazzi, Italy’s 2006 World Cup hero, has made a bold prediction for the season — tipping Chelsea as surprise favourites to edge Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
The ex-Inter defender shared his thoughts with FUTBIN, where he not only praised Chelsea’s resurgence but also suggested Liverpool could turn their focus toward lifting the Champions League trophy.
The former Inter defender said:
“Liverpool probably will focus on the Champions League because last season they lost on penalties and found Donnarumma in incredible form.
“Liverpool because last year they won the group and lost on penalties. They’ve played together a long time and Slot came in after Klopp and won the league. They’re now in a good position to win the Champions League.”
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Materazzi backs Chelsea for domestic glory
While the comments may raise eyebrows, both Chelsea and Liverpool’s recent records highlight why Materazzi sees them as frontrunners
Speaking about the race for the English crown, Materazzi said:
“Chelsea or Liverpool will win the Premier League. Chelsea are the Club World Cup champions and they beat PSG in the final easily.
“No one expected that. Maresca is Italian and he has done a good job at Chelsea.”
While many would see Liverpool or Manchester City as clear front-runners, Chelsea’s transformation under Enzo Maresca has turned heads.
The Blues finished 4th in the 2024/25 Premier League season with 69 points (20 wins, 9 draws, 9 defeats).
Their revival was led by Cole Palmer, who scored 15 league goals and established himself as their top attacking threat.
For comparison, Liverpool secured the Premier League title last season with a commanding 84 points (25 wins, 9 draws, 4 losses).
At Anfield, the Reds proved near unbeatable, recording 14 home wins out of 19 matches, with just a single home defeat.
These numbers underline the gulf that still exists between the two clubs, yet Materazzi believes Chelsea’s big-game pedigree – highlighted by their Club World Cup triumph – puts them in position to mount an even bigger domestic challenge.
Liverpool, however, enter this season as far more established contenders than Chelsea. The Reds finished 15 points clear of the Blues in 2024/25.
With Alexander Isak adding firepower to a front line that already included Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool have both the depth and proven winning mentality that Chelsea are still building towards.
While Chelsea’s progress under Maresca is undeniable, Liverpool’s combination of experience, consistency and squad balance makes them the clearer favourites to defend their crown.
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