Chelsea’s lead needs to be extended before African Cup

Chelsea will need to extend their lead further on top of the Premier League prior to January if they are to win the title this season.

Skipper John Terry knows the Blues are travelling well at the moment and are enjoying their five-point lead at the summit but is wary of main rivals Arsenal and Manchester United bearing down on them when the African Cup of Nations is on in January.

Chelsea will lose up to four key players including Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou when the tournament kicks off in Angola on January 10 and concludes 21 days later and Terry hopes the Blues can push further ahead of the pack before then.

"Arsenal are looking good at the moment. They are free-flowing and scoring goals like they always do but when they pick up injuries they tend to miss some key players,” Terry said.

"Manchester United have some tough games coming up as well. It's important before we lose the African players in January that we build a big cushion.

"The message from this defeat will be for United to kick on. They certainly won't give up. We were in their position last year and the year before that and there was no way we were going to give up.

"They've had a few injuries in their squad and missed a few key players, but once everyone is fit and well they'll be raring to go and will push us and Arsenal to the end."