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Enzo Maresca has blamed a lack of experience for Chelsea’s failure to keep pace with Liverpool this season - but is adamant his young squad will be ready to kick on next term.

After a fine start to the campaign, Maresca’s side briefly had the chance to usurp Liverpool at the top of the table in December, only to be held to a goalless draw by Everton.

They fell away badly from that point and are now 22 points behind the newly-crowned champions as they prepare a guard of honour to welcome Arne Slot’s side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

“The difference is they have been consistent compared to us,” said Maresca.

This has probably been the main reason why.

“And also in terms of experienced players that know how to win games and these kinds of things, I think they have something more compared to us.”

Chelsea have the youngest squad in the Premier League by design, having placed a huge emphasis on recruiting Europe’s best young talent since their takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake three years ago.

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While they remain committed to that policy, there have been hints in recent weeks that Maresca would welcome the addition of more experience to his squad this summer.

“When you have experience you have something more, no doubt,” he said last month.

There are parallels with the early part of Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Anfield, when Liverpool showed promising signs but needed the statement signings of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to make the leap to title contenders.

Those players - both signed for world record fees for their positions at the time - proved transformative additions and the Reds won the Champions League and Premier League across the course of the next two seasons.

Asked whether his Chelsea side would benefit from their own equivalent signings, Maresca said: “For sure, if you want to close the gap with these kind of clubs then, for sure, you have to do things.”

However, the 45-year-old is also certain that his young players will improve for their exposure this term.

He cited the home loss to Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final last month as another important lesson.

“Our team next season will be better also in terms of experience because this season has been one more year together,” he added.

He is growing a lot in terms of leadership.

“For sure, next sure he will be better and better.

Hopefully, the ones that we have, they can grow and help us in terms of experience.

“The Warsaw game we won 3-0 there [in the first leg] and at home we struggled, and that has been a good experience.

We need that kind of experience to improve.”

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Enzo Maresca

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