Five successive wins have banished any doubts about Antonio Conte’s ability to lead Chelsea to the Premier League title this season.

The Blues won their opening three league games of the season, but the suffered disappointing defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, the latter of which was a particularly poor performance from Conte’s side.

However, the Italian changed his system to accommodate a back three and, since then, Chelsea have won five Premier League games on the spin, and haven’t conceded a goal in any of them.

This run includes a 4-0 battering of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and a 5-0 thrashing of Everton, in what many described as one of the best Premier League displays of all time.

Consequently, the Blues sit second in the table, a point behind leaders Liverpool, and will go into the international break hugely optimistic of sustaining a title challenge.

In what has been an incredible month or two for Conte’s side, we identify the best Chelsea XI after the opening 11 Premier League games…

GK – Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois has pretty much been a spectator in the last five Chelsea matches, but is still a top-quality goalkeeper when called upon.

Like several Blues players, the Belgium international performed below his best last season, but was also hugely important in their march to the title the season before.

Asmir Begovic is a good goalkeeper, but not quite as good as Courtois, who has started all 11 Premier League games for Chelsea this season.

CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta has been one of the most reliable full-backs in the division in the last few seasons, and he’s taken to his new role in the back three effortlessly as well.

Conte needed to change something having seen his side struggle at the back in the early parts of the campaign, and a back three was a natural choice given his use of the system in Italy.

Spaniard Azpilicueta provides him with an excellent option because of his ability to play full-back, so he’s able to play wide in the back three with comfort, and without it hindering the whole system.

Keeping him fit could be key to Chelsea’s defensive success this season.

CB – David Luiz

It was a signing that smacked of desperation at the end of the transfer window, but David Luiz is repaying Conte’s faith with some excellent performances at the heart of the back three.

He’s a centre-back that has never really been disciplined enough to flourish there, but Conte has given him the responsibility in the middle of his back three, and the Brazilian international has been sensational.

He has been disciplined, but is still able to get on the ball and make the odd run forward because of Nemanja Matic’s and N’Golo Kante’s presence in front of him.

Tougher tests will come for Chelsea, but defensively they’ve been brilliant in the last month or so, and Luiz has played a big part in that.

CB – Gary Cahill

A player that seriously struggled at the start of the season, and was responsible for a few defensive mistakes, Gary Cahill is another who has grasped the back three system brilliantly.

The England international has always been quite solid and reliable, but was at fault on a few occasions at the start of campaign. However, his recent displays suggest that that was just a mere blip.

The 30-year-old has got his confidence back and has been trusted with playing on the left of the three, and he has repaid that faith thus far.

RWB – Victor Moses

Victor Moses has been reborn under Conte this season after a tricky few years at Stamford Bridge.

The Nigerian international joined the Blues in 2012 but has never really looked like nailing down a first team place, until Conte gave him the opportunity at wing-back in his new system.

And Moses has grasped his chance with both hands.

The 25-year-old has been brilliant down the right-hand-side for Chelsea, and looks a constant attacking threat every time he gets on the ball. Already, it seems like he will be an important player for the Blues this season.

CM – Nemanja Matic

Nemanja Matic did not have the best of seasons last time out under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink, but looks back to his best under Conte.

The midfielder has laid on five assists so far in the league – only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has more (6) – but he is also doing the so-called dirty work a lot better this season, breaking up play alongside N’Golo Kante effectively.

The Serb has been in superb form in this campaign, and is clearly enjoying his role in the middle of this Conte system.

CM – N’Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante has come to Chelsea and done exactly what he did at Leicester last season.

Apart from a disappointing performance against Arsenal, the 25-year-old has been excellent alongside Matic in the middle of the park, and continues to show the energy and work-rate that helped Leicester win the title last season.

We’ve seen a few more driving runs from the Frenchman this season, which suggests that he’s supremely confident but also willing to improve as an all-round midfielder alongside Matic.

The partnership between these two in the centre of midfield could play a big part in what Chelsea achieve this season.

LWB – Marcos Alonso

A few eyebrows were raised when Conte completed a deal for former Bolton defender Marcos Alonso in the summer, but he’s put any doubts to rest a few months into his Chelsea career.

Defensively sound and a willingness to get up and support attacks, Alonso has proven to be an excellent left wing-back in the last few weeks and, although he struggled a bit against Southampton, he still looked composed, although the Saints didn’t get at him enough in the 90 minutes.

Like Moses, he brings an energy and work-rate demanded of Conte, and looks a natural down that left-hand-side for the Blues.

FW – Pedro

With Oscar, Willian, and Cesc Fabregas all taking the plaudits over the last few seasons, Pedro has never really got a sustained run in the Chelsea team last time around.

However, he forms part of a front three which will cause any defence in the Premier League issues, and he himself has renewed confidence in the final third.

Goals against Manchester United and Everton have proved his goal-scoring capabilities and, although he doesn’t get as much credit as Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, he links up with those two well in the attacking third, laying on five assists so far this season.

At the moment, he is in-form, and keeping some talented attackers out of the starting eleven.

FW – Diego Costa

Diego Costa is looking more and more like the striker we saw help fire Chelsea to the title in 2014/15.

The Spanish international is the Premier League’s top-scorer with nine goals in 11 Premier League games, scoring in eight of those matches.

Him and Eden Hazard appear to be on the same wavelength this season, with intricate passes and anticipation of the other’s movement a sign of their confidence in themselves, and in the manager.

Keeping Costa fit, and free from suspension, will be key in Chelsea’s title bid this season.

FW – Eden Hazard

World-class.

That’s how good Eden Hazard has been for Chelsea this season. The Belgium international has been completely reinvigorated by Conte after in which he managed a meagre four Premier League goals.

Two excellent goals against Everton and a performance full of tricky and sheer brilliance suggests that not only is he back to his 2014/15 level, but now exceeding it.

He has clearly struck up a partnership with Costa – they always seem to know where the other is – and are getting the best out of each other at the moment.

Hazard’s form, as well as Costa’s, will go some way to dictating what Chelsea go on to achieve this season.