Michael Ballack has said Chelsea have taken extra motivation from Liverpool's stuttering start to the season.

The Blues are top of the Premier League with four wins out of four but Liverpool have already been beaten twice, against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

"It was a surprise that Liverpool lost twice in the first three games and it gives us extra motivation," said the Germany international.

"All we can do is win games. We have to focus on ourselves and if we play the best we can we can win the league."

Ballack, who has scored two goals so far this season, says he is in top condition after a summer without an international tournament.

Even though the midfielder's tour of America was curtailed by a minor toe injury, it was not a major setback for the Germany skipper.

"It was a good pre-season," said Ballack. "In the finish to last season with Guus Hiddink, the team looked well and played good football and that is what we have done at the start of this season.

"Since Carlo Ancelotti arrived he has brought the team back together.

"We are always happy when we are in first position. It is early in the season and we know there is a lot to do to keep this position but the victories have given us a lot of confidence."

Ballack's belief in Ancelotti's new 'diamond' system and their fine start to the campaign is echoed by goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The 27-year-old has heaped praise on the new formation selected by the Italian coach. "We are playing with a different system and there is no problem about it as we have adopted it quite quickly," said Cech.

"The advantage was that the team had been working well even before the boss came in and it helped that we stayed together as a team."

The Blues cruised to a 3-0 win over Burnley last weekend and while they played some great football against the new boys, Cech is refusing to get carried away.

"Everyone knows that the season will be long and demanding," he added. "Even the teams which will be at the bottom at the end fighting against the drop are trying to pick up as many points as possible.

"So far we have played against clubs which belong near the middle of the table. The pressure has been on us, because they had nothing to lose.

"Everyone expected us to have maximum points, which we have achieved."