Time running out to stop Chelsea

Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez have fallen short and Alex Ferguson has less than five weeks in which to fashion a team to beat Chelsea.

It remains the unanswered question in this season’s Barclays Premiership: how to knock over Jose Mourinho’s men. United try at Old Trafford on November 6.

The manner of Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Liverpool yesterday sparked coach Jose Mourinho into demanding respect for his team’s achievements.

Most of their rivals, however, have been quick to acclaim Chelsea’s great strength, and after eight straight league wins the danger for the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal is that the Premiership title race will become a procession.

Chelsea could be lapping the country in honour by early next year, a second successive title captured.

David Pleat, the former Tottenham and Luton boss, believes it is time for teams to attack Chelsea rather than prepare with the aim of stopping Mourinho’s men playing.

Pleat believes Chelsea’s full-backs must be made vulnerable if the Londoners are to come unstuck.

“Full-backs can play an important role against Chelsea when their sides gain strong possession in midfield,” he said.

“They must be brave enough to make themselves available in attacks. This should force Chelsea’s wide attackers to lose energy by tracking back.

“Set-plays need to be exploited. John Terry will mark the opposition’s biggest threat in the air.

“The trick is to run Terry away from the ball and for the kicker to deliver into the area he has vacated.

“Finally the back four must push out to compact things. It will reduce the aerial threat on goal and force defenders not to get too tight on (Arjen) Robben and (Damien) Duff and be beaten by their clever spinning off the ball.”

Pleat’s idea is brave but not so simple to put into practice when Robben, Duff and Frank Lampard are in full flight.

Harmony has been fully restored at Stamford Bridge after Ricardo Carvalho’s outburst was soon quashed.

Before the season began, clubs such as United were hoping for internal discord to break out amid Chelsea’s vast squad of internationals, but the group hug at the end of yesterday’s Anfield victory bellowed togetherness.

“The first thing to appreciate is that Chelsea have raised the bar and that the margin for error is lower than it has ever been,” said Sir Alex Ferguson, prior to Chelsea streaking clear at the top.

“Last season they lost only once and finished with 95 points, which is a quantum leap when you consider that the previous record was ourselves with 92 points in 1994.”

Wenger hinted that if there was any danger of players gaining inflated opinions of the team’s strength, that could pose problems for Chelsea.

“I don’t feel it is more difficult to retain the title than win it,” he said.

“What you lose a bit is that urgency that makes you more vigilant. The danger lies more within you than your opponent.”

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce shared Wenger’s belief.

“The one thing that can stop Chelsea is themselves.” said Allardyce. “They have to make sure they don’t slip into complacency.”

Complacency has yet to set in though, and West Ham’s Alan Pardew considers Mourinho’s men to be close to perfect.

“When you have scouted teams you can suggest that if you lock up one side you’re going to stop the main thrust of their attack,” he said.

“But with Chelsea you’ve got it coming from the middle, from the right and from the left.

“That’s what you want to build from a team, to have a threat from all areas of the pitch, and of course they have it on the bench as well.

“If someone’s having an off day, Mourinho can just put on another international star.”

Alan Curbishley watched Charlton lose their 100% record to Chelsea, losing 2-0 at The Valley.

While he believes Chelsea can be stopped, Curbishley stresses it is up to the bigger clubs to rise to the challenge.

“I don’t know how you take more points off Chelsea this season,” he said.

“Arsenal and Manchester United didn’t take maximum points from games they should have and lost some others which they wouldn’t normally.

“The difference with Chelsea was that the majority of times they would get the three points however they were playing.

“In contrast, Manchester United totally dominated some teams last season and ended up with only a draw or even got beat. Arsenal were exactly the same. Chelsea have laid down the gauntlet and it is up to the rest of us to pick it up.”

Aston Villa’s Luke Moore became the first player to score against Chelsea this season.

But after seeing Chelsea come back to win all three points, Villa boss David O’Leary was left deflated.

“Chelsea are strong, they’re fit, they’re physical and they have got players who have this will to win,” he recognised.

“It’s up to the rest of us to take the challenge to them.”

The game’s greatest thinkers have been posed perhaps their trickiest question, and Wenger expects a vulnerability to be exposed before long.

“I don’t feel like the title race is over,” said Wenger.

“If I agree with that then maybe we should stop the league now, give Chelsea the trophy and start again.”