Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger hopes the team can improve on their consistency compared to last season.
The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League and hope to make the step up to a title challenge this coming season.
And Rudiger admits the lack of ability to string together wins in the league is what put Chelsea so far behind the top two.
"What Liverpool and Manchester City have shown over the past few years, you have to take your hat off to them," Rudiger told Transfermarkt.
"That has my greatest respect - but I don't expect these two teams to dominate everything for the next few years.
"Manchester United could move closer in the long term with consistent performances like after the corona break, and we shouldn't forget Tottenham. Then there's also us, who want to close the gap step by step."