The recent week in English Premier League football has seen significant shifts in narrative for two of its biggest clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool, marked by inconsistent performances and a resurgence of an underdog. While Chelsea's title aspirations faced a brutal reality check, Liverpool continued to grapple with their diminishing "Anfield fear factor," highlighting broader issues of inconsistency and tactical vulnerability.

Chelsea's rollercoaster week began with a respectable 1-1 draw against league leaders Arsenal, showcasing a competitive spirit despite the challenge. However, this momentum quickly evaporated three days later with a shocking 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Leeds United at Elland Road. This performance drew scathing criticism from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who unequivocally stated that Enzo Maresca's side has "no chance" of winning the Premier League title this year. Neville pointed to "gaping holes" in the squad, particularly highlighting the subpar performances of defenders Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, and Tosin Adarabioyo, as well as goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. "The goalkeeper is not good enough to be a title-winning goalkeeper, and then at centre-forward, they're good players, but they're not at the levels that are required to win Chelsea a title," Neville added, emphasizing a systemic issue rather than isolated errors. He further criticized Chelsea's defensive organization, remarking on the "mess" and "sloppy" play from the backline, particularly for the third goal scored by Dominic Calvert-Lewin after a defensive mix-up involving Malo Gusto and Tosin Adarabioyo. Maresca himself acknowledged the loss as "very poor," admitting that the team deserved the defeat and that "the inconsistencies are still there." He also noted the impact of player changes, stating, "When you change players, the level drop is the reality, because they are important players for us. Moi (Caicedo), Reece (James), Wes (Fofana), these kinds of players," suggesting potential struggles with squad depth and reliance on key individuals like the suspended Moises Caicedo.

The architects of Chelsea's downfall were Daniel Farke's Leeds United, who delivered a stunning and well-deserved victory. Farke, whose position was reportedly precarious, engineered a tactical masterclass, shifting from his usual 4-3-3 to a more defensive yet potent 5-3-2 formation. This change, previously successful against Manchester City, allowed Leeds to be both composed and aggressive. They adeptly absorbed Chelsea's pressure while launching dangerous counter-attacks. Despite ending the game with a mere 29% possession, Leeds effectively controlled the match and imposed their will, particularly through impressive performances from wing-backs Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson, who excelled in both defense and attack. Leeds' physical dominance, a trait Chelsea typically prides itself on, was evident as they outmuscled and outplayed their opponents, winning crucial second balls. The goals from Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin cemented a memorable night for Elland Road, a ground that seemed to regain its old intimidating "spirit." This victory provided a stark answer to questions surrounding Chelsea's title aspirations, making a top-four finish appear more realistic.

Meanwhile, Liverpool faced their own challenges, with Anfield, once a fortress, seemingly losing its psychological edge over visiting teams. This was painfully evident in their match against Sunderland. The Black Cats, flying high in the Premier League top six, showed remarkable composure and confidence, controlling the opening 20 minutes and silencing the home crowd. Liverpool, in contrast, appeared slow, ponderous, clumsy, and riddled with nerves, with only Dominik Szoboszlai showing consistent drive. Sunderland finished the first half stronger and eventually took a deserved lead through Chemsdine Talbi's deflected strike, prompting an anxious silence at Anfield. Arne Slot's side displayed a severe lack of hunger and played "turgid" football, struggling to dominate despite their technical quality. Slot made crucial changes, including bringing on Mohamed Salah at half-time, and later substituted Cody Gakpo, citing his predictability in 1v1 situations. Sunderland, morphing their defense into a back seven at times, continued to offer danger on the break against a languid Liverpool.

Liverpool eventually clawed their way back, finding an equalizer through Florian Wirtz, whose shot deflected off Nordi Mukiele into the net. However, despite a subsequent onslaught, the best chance to win the game fell to Sunderland's Wilson Isidor, who was denied a potential match-winner by a heroic goal-line clearance from Federico Chiesa, who had tracked back the length of the field. This sequence encapsulated Liverpool's struggles—dominating possession but remaining vulnerable and lacking a decisive edge. Slot candidly admitted after the game, "Teams that play us now think they can get a result," acknowledging the widespread problems across the pitch, from an overrun midfield to vulnerable defenders like Ibrahim Konate and Virgil van Dijk. The decision to bench Salah again also became a significant talking point. With upcoming fixtures against Leeds at Elland Road—a venue where Chelsea just stumbled—and then Inter in the Champions League, Slot faces an unforgiving schedule to address these deep-seated issues.

In conclusion, the week highlighted a telling narrative for the Premier League's elite: Chelsea's title hopes are realistically over given their glaring inconsistencies and tactical vulnerabilities, while Liverpool must urgently address their wavering home form and team cohesion. Conversely, clubs like Leeds and Sunderland demonstrated that tactical astuteness, collective hunger, and physical intensity can still upset the established order, providing thrilling, unpredictable football and lifting the gloom for their respective fanbases.