Chelsea has the opportunity to occupy first place this season if Liverpool's consistency begins to be disturbed in the upcoming matches, but if Liverpool continues to be as good as Chelsea, second place will not fall to any other team other than Chelsea because so far the improvement in the game of the Chelsea team itself has been quite good and undeniable. The next match for Chelsea is to host Fulham, and it will be a fairly easy match for Chelsea to win at home because Fulham has not developed well enough during this season.
Liverpool have a much heavier schedule in the next five matches because they have to face Tottenham, Man United and Nottingham Forest and if they are unable to maximize the three matches, it is likely that Chelsea will be able to win the first position. The next five matches Chelsea will face a much easier match because it will not face a much stronger team, so Chelsea's chances of catching up points from Liverpool are very large.
This is the best opportunity for Chelsea but it takes consistency to be able to collect full points in the five matches. Enzo Marsca will definitely understand this opportunity will be a big hope for them and surely he will provide much better results to be able to rank first in the standings.
Regardless of the fact that Chelsea has almost covered the gap between them and Liverpool but i still think that it may take a longer time before Chelsea might get the opportunity to top the table because Liverpool has an outstanding game to play which if they win it, they will literally be topping Chelsea with 5 points and in Liverpool's next 5 matches, the only game that will give them headache is against Manchester united but for their matches against Tottenham, Westham, Leicester and Nottingham forest, all will be a win for Liverpool. I know some persons will be asking about Nottingham Forest due to the fact that they won Liverpool at Anfield in their first meeting but i don't see their returning leg against Liverpool as a threat anymore.
Chelsea actually needs to be determined to keep pushing and chasing Liverpool so that any mistakes from Liverpool, they can take advantage and top the table. I know Enzo Maresca to be a very dogged coach, the only thing that can affect Chelsea's performance now is when key players get injured and ruled out of some matches otherwise nothing can stop Chelsea's resilience right now.
Chelsea might still top the league and it may not take longer time as you have said one thing you should know is that football can be unpredictable it might be that Liverpool may loss 2 straight matches while Chelsea wins more other two to top the league with 1 point I don't see Liverpool toping Chelsea with 5 point as a big deal besides they haven't even won their outstanding game had it been the point Liverpool is toping Chelsea with is may be like 10 points then that is when you would have use the word longer time. More over we shouldn't underrate Tothenham, westham, Leicester, and Nottingham forest did you also know that Nottingham forest has won all the big team in the English premier league, Chelsea are doing well this season I believe they are strong tittle contenders I won't be surprised if Chelsea wins the English premier league tittle.