Chelsea stumble again as Ipswich secure vital victory

The Blues, now ten points adrift of leaders Liverpool having played an extra match, face mounting concerns over their title aspirations.

Reflecting on the performance, Maresca remained pragmatic but acknowledged areas for improvement. "When you create so many chances, you expect to do better defensively," he said.

"Offensively, there are not many criticisms, but we know we can do more. December was tough, with nine matches leaving us fatigued by the end. We are happy with some aspects, but we must improve as we enter the second half of the season."

Ipswich, who had yet to win a Premier League game at home this season, seized the opportunity to upset the faltering Blues.

The hosts started brightly, and Liam Delap's penalty in the 12th minute, following Filip Jorgensen's foul, gave them an early lead.

Delap, ending a six-game scoring drought, nearly added a second, but Jorgensen's strong save kept Chelsea in the contest.

The visitors had their moments, particularly in the first half, when Cole Palmer's free-kick struck the post and Joao Felix's apparent equaliser was disallowed for offside after a lengthy VAR check.

Moises Caicedo and Palmer also came close, but Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton produced several key saves to preserve the lead.

A second-half mistake by Axel Disasi allowed Ipswich to seal the win. Delap intercepted Disasi's careless pass and set up Omari Hutchinson, who slotted a composed finish past his former club.

Despite dominating possession, Chelsea were unable to respond, leaving Ipswich to celebrate a crucial three points.

For Ipswich, Kieran McKenna's men remain in the relegation zone but have closed the gap to safety to just one point, offering hope for the second half of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's festive period collapse has cast doubt on their ability to mount a serious title challenge this season.

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