IN-form Chelsea fired on all cylinders yesterday at Stamford Bridge as it trashed Everton 5-0 to make it five wins on the bounce in the Premier League and climbed to the top of the table in the process.
The Blues looked dominant throughout to maintain their impressive run of form, particularly in the first half when Eden Hazard, Marcos Alonso and Diego Costa all netted against a sorry visiting side, who had boasted the division’s second-best defensive record prior to this mauling.
Two more goals arrived after the restart – Hazard adding his second and Pedro also joining the growing list of scorers, as the Blues made it 16 goals scored and none conceded in this dominant streak of form since switching formation.
Even before edging ahead, Chelsea completely dominated possession against an Everton side struggling to get to terms with a temporary five-at-the-back system, which was designed to match the dominant Blues across the field.
That proved to be far from the case, though, as Hazard cut in from the left and rifled a shot into the
far corner to open the scoring from the hosts’ first attempt 19 minutes in, although there was a shout for offside as Pedro – who looked to be an inch the wrong side of his man – was in the view of the Netherlands stopper.
Chelsea fans were made to wait just 70 seconds for the second, with Everton losing possession from kickoff which allowed their opponents to quickly swarm forward – Pedro’s overhit pass finding Alonso who buried the ball through the body of Maarten Stekelenburg to open his own account for the Blues and put his side well on their way to another victory.