Ruthless Chelsea beat sorry Norwich City 7-0 yesterday to stay top of the Premier League and send out a warning. It was a memorable day for Chelsea’s academy, with five of their stars featuring and contributing their share. Mason Mount scored a hat-trick, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi got on the scoresheet, Ruben Loftus Cheek grabbed an assist, while Trevoh Chalobah kept things tidy at the back.
This was a significant victory for Chelsea, who ensured another week at the top of the table and significantly improved their goal difference. It was also a huge victory and one that felt a long time overdue. Chelsea hadn’t won a Premier League game by 5+ goals since winning 5-0 against Huddersfield Town. That was also the also the last time the Blues scored five or more goals in a single game in the league. For the first time since 2014, when they beat Everton 6-3 at Goodison Park, Chelsea scored 6+ goals in a single game.
Under Frank Lampard, Chelsea did score five once but conceded two against Wolves. Last season, they failed to score more than four in any game. During that time, the likes of Liverpool, Man City and last season even Man United have racked up impressive wins. So it felt like a demolition was long overdue for the west Londoners.
No Lukaku, no problem for Chelsea
Norwich City looked like ideal candidates to give Chelsea a problem or two. They’d create a low block and defend deep around their penalty area, to stifle their opponents. And with Romelu Lukaku also missing, it wouldn’t have been a surprise had Chelsea struggled a bit.
However, there were no such worries as Chelsea instead produced their best performance of the season so far. They clicked into gear from the first whistle and sustained it for the entire 90 minutes. Lately we had seen Chelsea’s attack failing to make a mark for the full match, but that was not the case today. Agreed, it was against a desperately poor Norwich side whose luck was completely out, but the performance showed a ruthless edge that has been missing all season.
I mentioned players like Mason Mount, Kai Havertz will have to step up in the Belgian’s absence. Mount certainly did with a hat-trick and an assist, Havertz failed to contribute in any of the seven goals. His industry was there for all to see but he needs to convert it into something measurable, like goals.
There are a lot of positives to take from this performance. Chelsea already have 17 different scorers in their team and we can expect that number to increase. Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley are yet to open their accounts this season. All of Chelsea’s defenders have got on the scoresheet, so don’t rule out captain Cesar Azpilicueta breaking his duck in the near future.
Chelsea have already spent more days at the top this season than in their previous three seasons combined. Today, Liverpool will visit arch rivals Man United, and before the international break, we will have one Manchester derby as well. Chelsea’s next two fixtures? Against winless Newcastle United and Burnley. If they continue like this, Chelsea can remain top for another month or so before tricky games against Leicester and Man United after the international break.