The Premier League title race went right down to the wire last month. Manchester City and Liverpool battled it out on the final day, and a late comeback from the former of the two ensured the infamous trophy would stay at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea's job going into the 2021/22 season was to ensure that City and the Reds' ongoing dominance of English football reached its conclusion. After such a promising start - and what, at the time, looked like an impressive summer transfer window - many had tipped the Blues to mount a serious title challenge.
"We know we compete with maybe the two most consistent and maybe the best teams in Premier League history at the moment," Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said in April. "But I have to say I like it. It brings you out of bed early, and we will not stop thinking how we can close the gap."
