Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists his squad has sufficient depth to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League season.
The champions face Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night with their lead at the top of the table having been cut to just two points following Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
Chelsea started the game without Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who has been suffering from malaria for a month, and without the midfield power of Michael Essien.
The Blues lacked a cutting edge on Merseyside and were outfought in midfield to leave question marks hanging over the depth of Ancelotti's reduced squad.
"We started very well this season without certain players," said the Italian. "Didier was not 100% for a month with this problem and we have been without Frank Lampard.
"We have been without important players but we've shown good football and achieved good results.
"I think the squad is good enough to win the league.
"We want to play more quickly. Speed in a game is the most important thing.
"When you have to play slowly from the back, you will find the opponents in the right position.
"Liverpool played fantastically defensively, but we helped them by playing so slowly.
"Our speed improved our power in the second half."
He continued: "The squad is good. It's not large like last year, but it's good. Because at the end of the season, 15 or 16 players will have been involved in a lot of games. The other five or six will not be so involved.
"We have 16 players at the top level."
