Dietmar Hamann has warned Chelsea that if their recent form continues, then the Premier League title battle will become a two-horse race between Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Blues fell down to third in the table last weekend after being beaten 3-2 by West Ham United, while the Reds beat Wolves and Man City overcame Watford later on the same day.
Chelsea were then in UEFA Champions League action on Wednesday and were held to a 3-3 draw with Zenit Saint Petersburg, meaning the Blues are without a win in two matches - with Thomas Tuchel having a host of players out through injury.
Now, former Liverpool midfielder Hamann thinks his old club, as well as Man City, have too much for Chelsea this season and it will eventually become a two-horse race for the title.
Speaking to Metro, via Free Super Tips, the German said: "It is still a three-horse race right now, but I don’t think Chelsea have what it takes to win the Premier League over Liverpool and Manchester City.
"I know they won the Champions League, but it is a different competition. There are not as many games in the Champions League and you can show no fear in that competition because you can pick up results if the opposition aren't quite at it, but the Premier League is a long stretch.
"I just think City and Liverpool are one, if not two, steps ahead of Chelsea and this is why I think they will both have a healthy gap over Chelsea come the end of the season."
Despite there being plenty of talk about the title race despite it still being early in the season, Tuchel was quick to play that discussion down last weekend following Chelsea's defeat to West Ham.
"The race is not interesting at the moment. What is interesting is always the next 90 minutes and what is interesting is to have the focus right, the attitude right, and to take care about the details," the German coach said.
"We are not good enough on the details at the moment. We do too many big mistakes and have to care about the details. There is not need to ask questions or start doubting about the big picture.
"This is a game if you play at West Ham about the details. I can only repeat myself: without doing big mistakes, there is a big chance we win this game."
Chelsea take on Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, while Liverpool host West Ham United and Manchester City welcome Wolves to the Etihad Stadium - with all matches being played on the same day.
