Jurgen Klopp: Chelsea have been lucky with injuries – they would struggle without Costa & Hazard

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Chelsea are deserved Premier League leaders at the moment, but feels the Blues have been fortunate with injuries.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are reaping the dividends of no midweek European games this season unlike many of their rivals, which has helped claim second and first place in the league respectively.

However, Klopp's side have been quite unfortunate with injuries - despite the reduced games - with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho picking up setbacks in recent weeks.

Joel Matip has also been struggling with an ankle injury, whilst Danny Ings was recently ruled out for another year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have had the rub of the green with Antonio Conte rarely changing his starting eleven, and Klopp feels that has played a big part in their relentless charge to the top.

"When they go on like this they are the deserved champions, nobody could have a doubt about this," Klopp told Sky Sports.

"I am pretty sure that until now Chelsea are maybe the team that have had the most luck with injuries. We lost Phil (Coutinho) and Daniel (Sturridge) and Danny Ings in difficult moments when you really could use them.

"If it's Hazard and Costa at Chelsea, is it the same afterwards? It's a long season and they all have to play us again and not only us, they have to play Arsenal again and all of the others.

"Of course they are the team to beat because they are very experienced, maybe the most experienced team in the top flight at the moment."