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• Maresca warns Chelsea against complacency ahead of Tottenham clash

  Enzo Maresca has warned high-flying Chelsea that "things can change quickly in football" ahead of their London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League. 

  Maresca's side are second in the standings with 28 points from 14 matches and are unbeaten in their last six, trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points. 

  Arsenal also have 28 points, but sit third on goal difference, while champions Manchester City are two points behind the Blues in fourth place. 

  But Chelsea's Italian head coach once again refused to count his side as one of the contenders for the Premier League title this season.  

  "I don't think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We have to do many more things well, not just score goals," Maresca said. 

  "Defensively, we are doing well, but we are just focused on Sunday and then the next one.

  "We are not thinking about April, May or June. It's too early. Things can change quickly in football. The focus is Sunday."

  The Blues have scored 31 goals this season - the most by a team in the league this season, with Cole Palmer their top scorer with nine goals, followed by Nicolas Jackson, who has struck eight times. 

  They head into the derby on the back of a 5-1 win against Southampton on Wednesday, which was the second time they scored five goals or more in away games this season.

  The last time they did the same, they emerged champions under Jose Mourinho during the 2014-15 season. 

  Meanwhile, their next opponents, Tottenham, were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth last time out and dropped to 10th place, but Maresca labelled Spurs "a fantastic team." 

  "Spurs have very good players and a very good manager. What kind of problems they have, I don't know. But they are a fantastic team," he said. 

  "You see the results, two weeks ago they beat City, so they are a very good team."

  The 44-year-old also hailed Noni Madueke, who scored his fifth goal of the season against the Saints and has been involved in three goals in two matches, but reiterated that the winger still has scope to improve. 

  "Overall he's working well since we started. Sometimes he drops a little bit. He's not allowed to drop. In terms of numbers, he's doing fantastic with goals and assists," Maresca said.

  "Off the ball, when we ask him to defend and press, he's doing very well. The only reason I said this the other day is that I want the best from Noni and to get the best you have to push him. If he relaxes a little bit, it's wrong."

• Inzaghi lauds Martinez display despite missed chances in Parma triumph

  Simone Inzaghi showered praise on Inter captain Lautaro Martinez's display in their 3-1 win over Parma on Friday, despite the Argentine failing to find the back of the net. 

  Inter extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions with their latest victory, with Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram on target. 

  But it proved to be a frustrating night for Martinez, who saw a chance to score Inter's fourth from the penalty spot snatched from his grasp following a review by VAR. 

  The Argentine ended the contest having registered more shots (three) and the joint-most touches in the opposition box (five), while also accumulating a team-high expected goals (xG) tally of 0.77 to Inter's 2.31 total.

  But Inzaghi lauded Martinez's overall display at the San Siro, which saw only Alessandro Bastoni (nine) compete in more duels than his captain (seven). 

  "He's hugely important. His recovery play at the end was a great signal," Inzaghi said. 

  "As a former striker, I understand the pressure of scoring, but he needs to stay calm and keep helping the team like that. The goals will come, they always do for him."

  The only blemish on Inter's display was Matteo Darmian's late own-goal, with the former Manchester United defender turning into his own net nine minutes from time. 

  Only Juventus (eight), Napoli (nine), Fiorentina (10) and Empoli (14) have conceded more goals than Inter (15) in Serie A this term, leaving Inzaghi frustrated at the way his side let in a needless goal at full-time.

  "I'm very satisfied with what the lads achieved. We showed aggression and focus against a team that has been playing really well. I’m very happy," Inzaghi said.

  "The only downside was the goal we conceded. It wasn’t deserved. If I had to pick one thing to criticise, it would be that.

  "But overall, I’m very happy with the team’s performance."

  Up next for Inter is an away trip to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, before returning to league action against Lazio six days later. 

  Their fixture against Leverkusen starts a run of five games in 18 days, and Inzaghi insisted that every member of his squad would be needed for the upcoming games.

  "I’ve got 25 players, including goalkeepers, and I wouldn’t trade them for anyone from another team," he said.

  "We've got a demanding schedule ahead, including the Supercoppa. It’ll be tougher for us, but we’ve known that from the start."

• 'Determined' Postecoglou aiming to turn Tottenham's fortunes around

  Ange Postecoglou said he was not "hurting" but "determined" to turn Tottenham's fortunes around after their inconsistent season continued at Bournemouth on Thursday. 

  Postecoglou watched on as his side slipped to a 1-0 defeat to the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium, with Dean Huijsen's first-half header sealing the victory for the hosts. 

  The result saw Tottenham slip to 10th in the Premier League, having won just one of their last six games in all competitions, with that victory coming against Manchester City. 

  Following the full-time whistle, several Tottenham fans confronted Postecoglou as he made his way over to the away end, with the Australian engaging in conversation. 

  This Sunday, London rivals Chelsea are the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Postecoglou is aiming to put things right on home soil. 

  "I'm not hurting, I'm determined, that's all. I don't want to say it's unacceptable (the fans' abuse) because it is what it is," Postecoglou told reporters.

  "I've lived in this world for long enough to know that when people aren't happy they'll express their opinions, and I'm never going to hide, I'm never going to shirk that responsibility. I'll take (it) on board.

  "Is it nice? No, because like I said last night, I'm not just a manager, I'm a human being like everyone else. None of us like to hear those sorts of things, but it is what it is.

  "It doesn't disappoint me, it doesn't frustrate me, it doesn't make me angry; I'm just as determined as ever to get it right. Not because of that, but because of my resolve to bring success to the football club."

  Postecoglou said he was still searching for answers to Spurs’ inconsistency, and is also hoping to improve his own record in London derbies. 

  After winning his first four games in charge of Tottenham against teams across the capital (W2 D2), Postecoglou has now lost seven of his last 13 such matches (W4 D2).

  Adding to his woes was an injury to Ben Davies, who was playing as centre back in the absence of injured duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

  “Ben will go for a scan today so we’ll find out more," Postecoglou said. “Cuti’s (Romero) due to training, but we’ll see how he goes on Saturday."

  “Chelsea are going really well, they are in a good space at the moment with a fairly healthy squad and in good form.

  "Always a tough game against them but we are at home, and we need to make sure we produce a performance like we have in the other games," he added.