Antonio Conte has transformed a Chelsea side that looked to be struggling to make the top four a few months ago into genuine title contenders.

The Blues suffered disappointing defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Arsenal in September, with the defence in particular called into question after a few poor performances.

Conte’s job was even thought to be at risk even at that early stage of the season, but the former Italy and Juventus manager tweaked his formation at Stamford Bridge to incorporate a back three, and it has been a revelation.

Chelsea have won five successive league matches, including victories over Manchester United, Southampton, and Everton, and haven’t conceded a goal in any of them.

Eden Hazard and Diego Costa look to be getting back to the sort of form that fired Chelsea to the title the season before last, while the defence, headed by David Luiz, looks a totally different outfit.

Consequently, many have speculated whether the Blues can go on and win the title this season, and here are THREE reasons why they can do just that…

Hazard/Costa partnership

Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are in imperious form for the Blues at present, and their partnership and understanding is going to take some stopping.

Belgium’s Hazard was unbelievable against Everton last weekend, taking his goal tally for the season to seven, while Costa has scored nine goals in 11 Premier League games this season.

Individually, they’ve played well enough to benefit any team on their own, but their understanding of each other, where they are on the pitch, where they want the ball, is frightening.

Intricate passes, one-twos in and around the box, is a nightmare to defend against, but Conte’s system allows them more expression and freedom because they are always supporting one another, whereas at the start of the campaign Costa was much more isolated upfront.

They have been reborn under Conte, and keeping these two happy and fit will dictate how much success Chelsea have this season.

No European commitments

For many top teams, no European commitment is going to be an advantage, but for a team with new manager looking to implement a new system, this is going to hugely benefit Chelsea.

And we’ve already seen how greater time on the training ground is going to pay off for the Blues this season.

Conte switched the system to incorporate a back three, and since then his side have won five Premier League games, in which time they have scored 16 and conceded none.

Everyone knows their jobs, be it David Luiz’s more disciplined approach in the heart of the back three, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso supporting attacks as well as providing defensive stability, or Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante looking to dictate the middle but also produce driving runs forward.

Everyone knows what they need to do for the benefit of the team, and that all comes from intense sessions on the training ground, which is something that European football drastically reduces.

It also means that Diego Costa is able to play every game, and the whole squad remains fresh and prepared for every match.

No European football is a massive bonus for Chelsea this season.

Know-how

Although they have a new manager who hasn’t won the Premier League, they still have several players who won the title under Jose Mourinho in 2014/15.

Right from Thibaut Courtois in goal to Costa upfront, the vast majority of this team have been there and done it before, and this know-how could be invaluable going into the final few games of the season.

They know how to get results at the business end of the campaign – they’ve done it before – and remember it was only 18 months ago they won the title, even if it does feel longer than that because of last season’s woes.

Experience is vital – arguably it’s what let Liverpool down a few seasons back, and possibly what prevented Tottenham from a serious challenge last season – and Chelsea have it in abundance.