Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has hinted that Jadon Sancho has impressed during the early stages of his Blues career because of the club’s philosophy of “working hard”. The west London giants snapped up the winger from Manchester United in an initial loan deal in the summer and will make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

Sancho has forced his way into Maresca’s plans and has started Chelsea’s last three top-flight matches, laying on two assists in the process.

The 24-year-old previously struggled for form during a three-year spell at Old Trafford and was shipped out on loan to Borussia Dortmund last season.

Maresca was quizzed about Sancho in a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

And the 44-year-old may have identified why the player has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes since swapping Erik ten Hag’s regime for London as he stated: “Jadon is doing well - the only thing he needs to do is to continue in the same way, working hard every day.”

He added: “As I’ve said many times, for sure he is going to help us because we really believe he is a special player. But the only way to confirm that is to work hard every day and to never be happy in terms of always being ambitious, wanting more and more and more.”

Sancho regressed at Old Trafford after starring for four years in the Bundesliga during a permanent spell with Dortmund earlier in his career.

And Ten Hag may also take note of Maresca’s comments after the Italian was asked about midfielder Moises Caicedo in the same conference.

“I really believe that to improve as a team you need to improve the players,” Maresca explained. “We are trying - not only with Moi but with all the players - to dedicate time to spend time with them for extra work almost every day.”

Chelsea travel to Anfield after climbing to fourth in the Premier League table ahead of the international break. The Blues have returned to form under Maresca and have lost just one of their opening seven league matches.

The side were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest in their last encounter but have swept to victories over Fulham, Bournemouth, West Ham and Brighton since the campaign got underway in August.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are four points ahead of Sunday’s visitors at the top of the table after winning six matches.