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Florian Wirtz is a big summer addition to Liverpool's squad(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda believes his old club can challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

And he says Florian Wirtz should have signed for another club.

Malouda, speaking to bet365 at the launch of their free-to-play Club World Championship Tournament Predictor game, believes City will be back in the mix in 2025-26 after finishing 13 points behind champions Liverpool.



But he also thinks Chelsea could be in contention if they can keep their composure for the full campaign.

He said: "I want Chelsea to be able to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City, but there is a difference in mindset.

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“There is a difference in mindset and how the club will be able to compete in every competition.

Chelsea have been able to compete in one-off games with the top teams, but not in the long run.

"They have wasted too many points and that's the big difference."

Chelsea have had a steady rise back up the Premier League standings over the last three seasons and, as well as winning the the Europa Conference League, bagged a Champions League spot after finishing fourth in 2024-25 behind Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City.

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But their final placing could have been improved, however, as they squandered points against Everton, Fulham, along with both meetings with Ipswich Town.

Malouda continued: “The difference is in the squad and the competition within the squad, injuries also play a part, but there are a lot of questions about Mikel Arteta's ability to win trophies with Arsenal and that is mindset.

“I put Liverpool and Manchester City in the top two and then Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle in the level below.

A lot will depend on the transfer window and the choices that the clubs make.

“When you look at Liverpool, they have the heritage of Jurgen Klopp and everything he built.

All those players joined with his mindset and still have his mindset of competing for titles."

Chelsea have had a considerable overhaul in recent years, signing 45 new players since the opening of the 2023 summer transfer window, along with bringing through 17 academy players from Cobham in the process.

They have spent just shy of £100m since the opening of the first 2025 summer transfer window on June 1 and Malouda added: “Even though Chelsea have spent a lot in the transfer market, that spirit isn’t there yet.

“I hope that by winning the Conference League, even if it's not the biggest European cup, it convinced the players that they can’t be happy just being in tournaments.

“If that mindset returns to Chelsea, there is the potential with the current manager to disturb this hierarchy.”

The 45-year-old also had a controversial take about Florian Wirtz, suggesting Liverpool's new £116m man should have joined another Premier League club.

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“I think Florian Wirtz has the profile to join a team that is on the rise," said Malouda, who won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during his time at Chelsea.

“I think he would’ve been perfect to join a team like Newcastle, or Tottenham Hotspur, a team that wants to take that step up.”


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