Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois believes the Premier League title battle will be intense this season, despite his side’s commanding lead at the top of the table.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have registered nine wins and two draws from their 11 games to date this term and sit four points clear of second placed Southampton.

Defending champions Manchester City are eight points behind the Blues, with Arsenal and Manchester United currently in sixth and seventh respectively after indifferent starts to the campaign.

Chelsea appear well placed to claim a first league crown since 2010 but Belgian shot-stopper Courtois insists his side cannot allow complacency to creep in as he expects their rivals to respond.

“We are working game by game, but we don’t have the title in the bag. The Premier League is very difficult and hard,” he said.

“We are trying to win with every game that is possible. But there will be a still a long way to win the title. We are working hard. And hopefully that will be enough.”

Chelsea host West Brom on Saturday as they return to action following the international break, while City welcome Swansea to the Etihad Stadium and Southampton travel to Aston Villa.

Chelsea are 1.21 to take all three points on Saturday, while the Baggies can be backed at 13.01 to come away from Stamford Bridge with all three points and a draw is 6.00.