Chelsea opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League last weekend by beating a stubborn Hull 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte’s men had seen Liverpool and Tottenham both drop points on the Saturday, so they took full advantage thanks to goals from Diego Costa, who returned to the side after a week of speculation about his future, and Gary Cahill.

It means that they lead their nearest challengers Arsenal by eight points with just 16 games of the season to go, although Conte’s men face a tricky trip to Liverpool on Tuesday in a bid to stamp their authority on the title race.

For the though, the Blues entertain Championship side Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup, as Chelsea look to try and win the competition for an eighth time, and for the first time since 2012.

Nonetheless, Conte’s men are well-placed to win the Premier League title come May, but the boss may feel that more signings are needed to maintain their position at the summit.

And, having been linked with many players in recent weeks, here is what their IDEAL XI might look like come February 1…

Thibaut Courtois

He may not have had a great campaign last time out, but Thibaut Courtois has been back to his best this term.

The Belgian international was exceptional in helping the Blues win the Premier League back in 2014/15, yet was one of many Chelsea players that struggled last season.

Nonetheless, Courtois has been back to his reliable best this season, with his save to deny Patrick van Aanholt against Sunderland back in December exemplifying his return to form.

The 24-year-old is a top-quality keeper who defenders can rely on, and expect him to keep many more clean sheets and make more saves of that ilk as the season progresses.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta has been arguably the most consistent Premier League defender since he arrived in England back in 2012.

The 27-year-old may have been part of a Chelsea defence that struggled last term, but the Spanish international was the stand-out man in the backline, consistently working hard to break down opposition attacks down the flanks.

His versatility has been well utilised this season, with Conte using him to great effect in a back three, where he has excelled alongside the likes of David Luiz and Gary Cahill.

Keeping him fit and in form will be crucial for Chelsea in their quest to regain the Premier League title this season.

David Luiz

Many fans around the country were hugely surprised to see David Luiz return to Chelsea last summer, yet he has been an absolute revelation in the heart of Conte’s back three.

The Brazilian international left Stamford Bridge in 2014 for French champions Paris Saint-Germain, yet didn’t really show much improvement as a defender, which was highlighted by his horrendous display for his country in their 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.

However, Luiz has drastically improved his defensive capabilities since returning to Chelsea, and is clearly relishing the role of leading the Blues’ back three, as he has been excellent and more disciplined as a defender this season.

Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill was criticised for his start to the season at Chelsea after several costly mistakes saw the Blues draw 2-2 at Swansea, and then lose 3-0 at Arsenal in September.

However, since Conte switched to a back three, the England defender has improved ten-fold, and is now an indispensable member of the Blues’ backline.

Cahill looks a different player to the one that gifted Alexis Sanchez the opener at the Emirates, to the point that Conte’s reported interest in strengthening his defence has subsided in recent times.

Keeping a steady backline will be important for Chelsea in the remainder of the campaign, and Cahill’s recent displays suggest that he is there to stay for a while yet.

Victor Moses

Not many people would have put Victor Moses in Chelsea’s strongest line-up at the start of the campaign, yet he has made the right wing-back spot his own this season.

Prior to the opening game of the campaign, the Nigerian international played for West Ham, Stoke, and Liverpool more recently that the Blues, but Conte’s switch to a back three has given Moses the chance as a wing-back, and it’s one that he’s taken.

The 26-year-old has netted four goals and laid on two assists for the club this term, but it’s also his desire to get up and down the flanks, as well as help out defensively, which has been most impressive from a player who learned his trade as a winger.

There aren’t too many other wing-backs in the Chelsea squad that can fill in for Moses should he get injured, so it’s imperative that he stays fit and free from suspension over the coming months.

Steven N’Zonzi

Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante have been excellent for Chelsea this season, yet with John Obi Mikel having left for China, and Cesc Fabregas’ future far from certain, Conte may look to bolster his central midfield options this month.

Thus, one man they could look to bring in is Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi, previously of Stoke and Blackburn.

The Frenchman was very highly-rated during his spell in England, but has gone on to even better things at Sevilla by winning the Europa League with the Spanish giants last season, beating Liverpool in the final.

N’Zonzi is now one of the better central midfielders in La Liga, and has consistently been one of their highest rated players this season.

Unsurprisingly, speculation has been building about his future, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Juventus all reportedly keeping tabs on the 28-year-old.

There’s no doubt that he’d benefit all three of those teams, but Conte should go all out to get his man in the final few days of the transfer window as Chelsea look to stamp their authority on the title race.

N’Golo Kante

There’s no coincidence that N’Golo Kante has played for both Leicester and Chelsea, the two teams that have topped the Premier League in the last 12 months.

The Blues secured a £32 million deal for the French international midfielder last summer, and he has started his Chelsea career in a similar vain to how he ended his Leicester one with several impressive displays in the centre of midfield.

He has forged an excellent partnership with Nemanja Matic in the middle, but also complemented the more attack-minded Cesc Fabregas when he came into the team in recent weeks.

Kante is an outstanding midfielder whose relentless energy and work-rate will be pivotal to maintaining Chelsea’s position at the summit of the Premier League.

Marcos Alonso

Marcos Alonso’s summer move to Chelsea was another that raised eyebrows, but the Spaniard has been sensational in the left wing-back role for the Blues.

The 26-year-old cost the club £24 million last summer and, although there have been a few shaky displays like against Arsenal and Southampton, he has on the whole done brilliantly in giving the attackers an option down the left, but also using his intelligence and reading of the game to defend astutely.

The former Real Madrid man has turned out to be an excellent signing for the Blues and, like Moses, keeping him fit and fresh will be integral to Chelsea’s chances of winning the Premier League title.

James Rodriguez

Pedro and Willian have been outstanding for Chelsea when called upon in Conte’s front three, yet both of them would struggle to usurp James Rodriguez if he made the move to London this month.

The Colombian captain has made just four La Liga starts for Real Madrid this season, and has appeared in only 15 of their matches in all competitions this term.

His tally of four goals and five assists would be a decent return in any other side, but with the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema scoring or assisting every week, Rodriguez isn’t going to break into the side anytime soon.

Thus, the 25-year-old may consider a move away this month, and Chelsea have been linked with the attacker having missed out on him last summer.

He’d certainly bolster the attacking unit should he move to England, and would give Conte another excellent option in the second half of the season and beyond.

Eden Hazard

Belgian forward Eden Hazard has been at his very best this season after a meagre campaign last time out.

The 26-year-old scored just four goals in 31 Premier League games for the Blues last season as they laboured in their title defence, but this term has seen Hazard equal, and if not better, the standards he set in their title-winning campaign of 2014/15.

He has netted nine goals in 20 Premier League games so far this season, and has also laid on three assists for the club.

His performance against Everton last November has been widely remarked as one of the best the Premier League has ever seen, and a few more of those in the second half of the season will see Chelsea win another league title.

Diego Costa

Diego Costa was welcomed back into the Chelsea team with open arms by manager and fans alike against Hull last weekend, despite rumours circulating that he was tempted by a big money move to China.

Nonetheless, the Spaniard came back with a bang by netting the opener in a 2-0 win over the Tigers, and he produced a commitment display to suggest that he’s at Chelsea to stay for the foreseeable future.

That was his 15th Premier League goal of the campaign, which means that he is joint top-scorer in the league alongside Alexis Sanchez, which demonstrates his importance to this Chelsea side as, on his day, he is as good as any striker in the division.

Keeping him fit and happy between now and May will be integral to Chelsea staying top of the pile.