Sunday, November 27, 2016

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1



Independent :

Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Pedro and Victor Moses spoil Spurs' unbeaten record
Mauricio Pochettino's men were good value for their lead after Christian Eriksen's early strike but the tables turned after the hosts equalised

Glenn Moore at Stamford Bridge

The year 2016 has brought shock after seismic shock, but not a Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge. Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, Nelson Mandela in prison, and football fans still behind fences when Gary Lineker secured their last win here.

On Saturday, they looked on course to finally break the 26-year hoodoo, toying with Chelsea for 40 minutes and taking a lead through Christian Eriksen’s superb 10th-minute goal. Then, in a six-minute spell either side of half-time, Chelsea struck twice, through Pedro and Victor Moses. This restored the Blues to the Premier League summit, a position briefly surrendered to Liverpool in late afternoon, and inflicted Spurs’ first top flight defeat of the season.

It was a match which answered some questions about Chelsea, who had not previously had to come from behind since moving to a three-man defence with wing-backs, but raised further doubts about Spurs. They did not fall apart as badly as they did here last year, but they again looked short of gamecraft when under pressure.

Not that this seemed likely to be a concern in the opening period. The old line about form going out of the window in derby matches is not usually backed up by results but it was the case for the first half. Tottenham arrived off the back of a midweek misadventure in Monaco and with one win in nine games. Chelsea had not conceded in six Premier League matches, all of them won. Yet it was Tottenham who made the confident start, knocking the ball around with arrogant ease as Chelsea chased shadows. 

The home club were offering 25 per cent off in the megastore to mark Black Friday weekend but the concessions were not supposed to extend to the pitch. But with ten minutes gone Dele Alli was allowed to drive forward to the fringe of the Chelsea penalty box before being challenged. When David Luiz did engage Alli popped the ball off to Eriksen who had drifted, untracked, off the right flank. The Dane took full advantage of the space granted him, unleashing a 20-yard shot which swerved away from Thibaut Courtois and inside the left-hand post.

It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded in 600 Premier League minutes, and the first in seven matches since switching to a three-man defence. Bolstered by it Spurs became even more dominant. Uncharacteristically Chelsea struggled to gain, or retain, the ball. Diego Costa was isolated, Eden Hazard anonymous, a frustrated Luiz was booked for a hack at Harry Kane. On the touchline Antonio Conte was in turns furious and bewildered.

For all Spurs’ control, however, clear-cut chances were few. Victor Wanyama, Eriksen and Moussa Dembele shot over from range, from a similar distance Kane at least tested Courtois, but not enough to concern him. And, as so often, the superior team paid for their failure to convert possession into goals. Shortly before the break Pedro was picked out on the edge of the box. He created space by dummying to pass inside, then outside, then used that space to curl an exquisite shot past Hugo Lloris.

Spurs still looked shocked when they went into half-time. Whatever Mauricio Pochettino said to them failed to restore their equilibrium for they conceded again early in the second period. Caught in possession in midfield they were then drawn to Costa’s run down the inside left channel. This left Moses completely unmarked to run in from the right and onto Costa’s cut-back and drill the ball in via the legs of Lloris and Jan Vertonghen.

The reversal of fortunes brought back bitter memories for the visitors of the tempestuous match here in May, their last visit, when they lost a two-goal lead, their heads, and title hopes. Had Marcos Alonso put the match beyond them, as he should have before the hour, they may have lost their discipline again. 

Instead they regrouped, and gradually began to press. After Kane carved out a half-chance for Eriksen Conte decided it was time to dig in. Willian came on for Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic for Moses. Chelsea circled the wagons. Spurs did not lack for desire but they had neither the nous nor, after a draining week, the energy, to pierce the blue blanket.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic, 79), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Oscar, 83), Hazard (Willian, 76); Costa.
Subs not used: Begovic, Fabregas, Batshuayi, Chalobah.

Tottenham (3-5-2): Lloris; Walker, Vertonghen, Dier, Wimmer; Wanyama, Dembele (Janssen, 83); Eriksen, Alli (Nkoudou, 73), Son (Winks, 65), Kane.
Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Onomah, Carter-Vickers.

Referee: M Olive

======================

Guardian:

Victor Moses seals Chelsea comeback as Tottenham lose unbeaten record

Chelsea 2 - 1

Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge

The team who are already developing an air of Antonio Conte’s Undroppables cruise on. After fielding the same Premier League selection for the sixth successive – and successful – time, Chelsea continued their revival as they saw off Tottenham, showing the mettle to muster a comeback after going a goal behind in the first half. Two of the players who have thrived most from the Conte redesign, Pedro and Victor Moses, supplied the goals to settle a riveting local tussle. After Manchester City and Liverpool had plundered points earlier in the day, nothing less than three would suffice to return to the top of the table. Chelsea reacted ruthlessly.

It left Conte with the air of a contented manager. He acknowledged the evolution that makes his team a different proposition in the high-intensity games to the side who capitulated against Liverpool and Arsenal. “Now we are another team compared to the Liverpool and Arsenal games,” he said. “If we were the same team we would lose this game, for sure. Now we have another type of confidence. I liked our reaction a lot. We won and I am pleased because it wasn’t easy.”

For Tottenham, defeat here to a long-term bogey side is nothing new but what must hurt is that for a spell their performance showed them at their best, with a refreshed appetite for the style that had them unbeaten in the Premier League until the winter chill had set in. History suggested that Stamford Bridge might be a test too far and what felt like a week of reckoning duly delivered two heavyweight blows. After tumbling out of the Champions League in midweek, Mauricio Pochettino’s men were punctured in the league.

The Tottenham manager managed to be frustrated and philosophical at the same time: “If you want to analyse the result, Chelsea win, congratulations. If you want to analyse the 94 minutes, Tottenham had a lot of positives. But in football you need to score. In football sometimes it’s difficult to explain but this is not difficult. They were clinical in front of the goal and we weren’t.”

After the smouldering volcano of this fixture last season, he had called upon his team to be “brave” and his players began as if that instruction was still ringing in their ears.

Keeping a semblance of self-control was imperative and they started by exerting important authority in midfield, pegging Chelsea back and keeping confident possession. Ten minutes in they soared in front. Mousa Dembélé worked the ball up the left and it was moved via Dele Alli to Christian Eriksen. The Dane saw a chink of goal to aim at. His thunderous shot was laced with curl and flew into the net. It was the first time Chelsea’s defence had been beaten in 600 minutes.

Conte looked exasperated as his team could not get a foothold. The muscle in Tottenham’s midriff, with Dembélé and Victor Wanyama patrolling in front of Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen, proved a meaty barrier. David Luiz mustered Chelsea’s first shot just before the half-hour mark, a whack of a free-kick that Hugo Lloris caught comfortably.

Tottenham’s dominance was such that they continued to create strong chances. After efforts from Kyle Walker, Harry Kane and Eriksen the visitors wondered how they were not even further in front as half-time approached.

What more devastating time for Chelsea to summon some inspiration. A minute before half-time all Tottenham’s hard work was speared by a moment of glorious individual skill. Pedro picked up possession 20 yards out and wrong-footed the Tottenham defence with a touch that had a dash of Cruyff turn about it. The Spaniard bent his shot into the top corner with a flourish.

Off the hook after a pretty uncomfortable first 44 minutes, Conte delivered some choice words at half-time. Chelsea came out with enhanced determination and were soon ahead. They pressed the ball off Tottenham and broke with intent. Eden Hazard invited Diego Costa to drive forwards and he capped a bullish and clever run with a killer pass to Moses, whose shot squirted off Lloris and Vertonghen on the way in. The pendulum had swung. Chelsea’s energy levels suddenly made Tottenham look ponderous. It spoke volumes about how the balance of the game shifted that both Chelsea’s wing-backs had so much more room to get involved.

Although Tottenham tried to manufacture a comeback of their own, Chelsea’s second-half solidity was a far tougher nut to crack. Conte’s Undroppables cherished their win. Tottenham’s pain was palpable.

Conte tried hard to deflect any title talk at this stage. “It is not right to talk about this,” he said. “We have a long way in front of us. It’s important to stay humble and continue to trust in our work. Today we won a game against a really strong team. Tomorrow it’s important to think about the next game, against City, another very strong team. We have to continue to work. We don’t forget that against Arsenal and Liverpool we lost.”

In attitude and application, Conte’s Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with.


=========================


Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Spurs 1: Moses puts Blues top of the table as Conte's men fight back from early Eriksen goal

Sam Wallace

They are back at the top of the Premier League and it should be said that Chelsea’s most-capable manager, Antonio Conte, burnished his reputation for tactical mastery a little further with a half-time fix that proved decisive in his team’s seventh straight league victory.

Dreadful for long periods of the first half, Chelsea came roaring back after the break to win a match that Tottenham Hotspur’s players had previously come to regard as payback for the way in which their hopes of the title last season were finally extinguished at Stamford Bridge in May. No payback, just more pain and the first league defeat of the season for the club that have not won in the league at Stamford Bridge since February 1990.

Conte acknowledged that Pedro’s late first-half equaliser unexpectedly changed the complexion of the game but it was notable that his side were sent out for the second half re-energised and in hot pursuit of a second goal, which came from Victor Moses within six minutes.

They were a different side after half-time. As for Spurs, the second half was the kind of performance that got them knocked out of the Champions League group stages within five games, with a bad reaction to the Chelsea equaliser after Christian Eriksen had given his side the lead.

There was no staying power from a side who had the game in their grip but allowed it to slip away. It seemed to get to their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, who allowed himself to be riled by the constant appeals and demands of Conte’s staff and ended up deep in conference with his opposite number with a few minutes left, making his complaints known. He was defiant afterwards but it felt like a manager trying to stick up for his players, no matter what.

“If you analyse the whole game then we deserved, at a minimum, the draw,” he said. “In football it can be difficult to explain when you conceded two goals and you play better than your opponent. They were clinical in front of goal and we were not. I am not concerned about anything. After a game like that you only have to feel proud.”

He stuck to his guns that his side had been the better team in spite of the result. Conte was prepared to concede that Spurs had begun the game with much greater intensity and then after that he said he “liked the reaction” of his players.

“In the second half we exploited the situations we didn’t exploit in the first half,” he said.
Those previously unexploited situations? For a start he got his wing-backs into the game after the break, Moses scoring the winner and Marcos Alonso missing a chance for the third. He also seemed to reset the balance in midfield where Spurs outnumbered the home side at all times in the first half and when the chances came, Chelsea took two of their three.

“They needed fewer chances than us to score twice,” Pochettino said. “We created many and only scored one. Maybe we were a little bit better but on the result, they were better. When we conceded the goals it is true we lost a lot of control of the game.”

It was all Pochettino’s boys before the first Chelsea goal and for the first time since his team lost to Arsenal on Sept 24, Conte had looked out of his depth at times in the first half, in charge of a team that could not get on the ball, could not threaten their opponents, and did not know how to change it. In the centre of midfield, Dele Alli was active at all times, and effective in the goal that Eriksen scored after 11 minutes.

It was not the first time that Alli had bowled forward, straight at the Spurs defence and on this occasion there was a collision of sorts with David Luiz and the ball broke to the Dane.  His goal was struck ferociously with the left foot and beat Thibaut Courtois inside his near post. It had been coming, with Spurs in control of the match and nothing of any note from key figures like N’Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard and the two wing-backs.

As for the Chelsea defence, it was the first time they had conceded in the league since the Arsenal game and the first time in 600 minutes and more than six games of league football. The team were trapped in their own half with Mousa Dembélé and Victor Wanyama particularly strong at closing the home team down high up the pitch.

Chelsea had barely created a chance until late in the half when Pedro found himself in an extraordinary amount of space in the left channel just outside Spurs’ area. The winger was at first unaware how much time he had and instinctively looked wide but he detected the space, span inside and curled the ball past Hugo Lloris.

It was a wonderful finish, albeit assisted by some poor defending, but it takes a very a good footballer indeed to punish an opponent as clinically as that. The goal gave Chelsea a parity they barely deserved and also the opportunity for their manager to reorganise at half-time which he did well.

Chelsea moved the ball more quickly from the start of the second half and Alonso and Moses were back in the game at last. Moses scored the second on 51 minutes and Alonso should have got the third shortly after that but blew a great chance laid on to him by Diego Costa’s cut-back into the area.

Before then, Chelsea had turned over possession quickly for their second, Dembélé losing out in midfield and then the ball going from Pedro to Costa down the left wing. His ball into the area went through a group of players to Moses, coming in late on the far side and with no one near him.

His shot clipped Lloris and struck Jan Vertonghen on the line but was moving so quickly that the defender was unable to react in time to keep the ball out.

Pochettino sent on Harry Winks and Georges-Kévin Nkoudou whose one insurgence down the left past Branislav Ivanovic left the poor old Serb, himself a substitute, with his hands in the air in supplication. As it was, Chelsea saw this one out comfortably. 

======================

Mail:

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Victor Moses fires Antonio Conte's side top of Premier League in comeback at Stamford Bridge

Christian Eriksen opened scoring with thunderous drive as Chelsea conceded for first time in over ten hours
The hosts drew level just before half-time as Pedro fired in a curling effort from outside the box
Victor Moses ghosted in at the back post to smash his side into the lead via a deflection on the line
His goal proved to be the winner as Antonio Conte's side made it seven wins on the trot
Spurs haven't won at Stamford Bridge since 1990, extending the dismal run to 30 games

By ROB DRAPER

Right now, no team surpasses Antonio Conte and this Chelsea side. They can win with a swagger, as they did against Manchester United and Everton; they can tough it out on inhospitable away trips, as they did at Middlesbrough; and they can come from behind, redressing the balance of play when asked serious questions, as they did yesterday.

Where the floundered a year ago, now they blossom; where egos were crushed in the past, now they flourish. Pedro wilted last season amidst the heat of dysfunctional Chelsea, seemingly unable to bloom out of Catalan soil; Victor Moses was in exile, condemned to another loan spell, unwanted by the previous manager.

Yet both goal-scorers were excellent, reborn by the warm embrace of Conte’s love and nurture.

And Chelsea, right now, appear to have it all. In Diego Costa, who was outstanding in the second half, and David Luiz, they have a worldliness that secures victories, even after wholly indifferent first halves, which is what they produced yesterday.

Luiz lingered yesterday on the pitch, mixing with fans, receiving their embrace, giving back not just a shirt to a fan, but a repaired relationship between players and crowd. Not only is he defending well; he brings charisma and a character to a side that was beginning to look short of both.
It is seven successive wins since the 3-0 calamity at Arsenal and just one goal conceded since Conte’s back three was introduced. The early-season loss here to Liverpool is also forgotten. In a competitive Premier League, this is some run.

Antonio Conte was fired up by Pedro's strike and joined in the celebratory scenes on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge

‘Now we are another team compared to Liverpool and Arsenal games, for sure,’ said Conte. ‘If we were the same team we would lose the game for sure. Now we are another team. And I am pleased for the players. We have another type of confidence. We are working a lot and enjoy this type of football. Today we won and I am pleased because it wasn't easy.

‘It was a big test for sure. Spurs is a really good team. Today they started better than us but I liked a lot our reaction. It wasn't easy. After the first half we spoke. I always speak with my players and we found together the right solution to try to win the game. In the second half we exploited the situations we didn't exploit in the first game.’

For Tottenham, twenty-nine fruitless visits to Stamford Bridge becomes thirty; 1990 remains the benchmark performance here for a Tottenham side, the last time they won. They scored and, in current form, that counts as a small victory against Chelsea.

But it was hard to shake off the memory of meltdown Tottenham had when they lost both the league and their heads here last season. It felt that the hard lessons learnt that night were underscored yesterday evening: that this Tottenham side remains a little short of know-how and quality.

Not far short; they have it in moments and in the first half they demonstrated that the quality which exists in the side. But re-enforcements look necessary if they are to be the side that becomes a regular Champions League participant.

Mauricio Pochettino chose to dwell on the positives, of which there were plenty. ‘There is no worry,’ he said. ‘After that game, I feel proud; the effort was brilliant. We come from Monaco and it was tough to be out of the Champions League, but the answer of the players was clear. The right mentality, good performance, we were better. But we lost. If you want to analyse the result, Chelsea win, so congratulations. If you want to analyse the 94 minutes, Tottenham had a lot of positives.’

Tottenham were undoubtedly better early on. Where there had been inertia in Monaco, there was energy unbounded here, with Victor Wanyama muscling his way to domination in the midfield, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli making darting, creative runs, Harry Kane a constant nuisance and Kyle Walker indefatigable.

They confirmed their momentum in the 11th minute, when Eriksen picked the ball out 20 yards out from a Dele Alli pass. It seemed harmless but Eriksen saw a gap which Chelsea hadn’t covered. He unleashed a ferocious strike, off the edge of his boot, spinning away from Thibaut Courtois, to open the scoring.

Chelsea couldn’t wrest back control of the game. They were confined to a David Luiz free kick on 30 minutes and Eden Hazard cleverly intercepting a Lloris clearance and almost embarrassing the keeper on 42 minutes. Still, when their equaliser came, it was exceptional; wholly against the run of play, but a joy to watch nonetheless.

Pochettino will be agitated at the amount of space Pedro was afforded, but the control, little drag back, turn and exquisite strike, curling into the top corner from 20 yards out, was outstanding.

Pochettino would have been even more concerned about Chelsea took the lead early in the second half. With Tottenham losing the ball cheaply in midfield, Chelsea swept up-field with Costa charging down the left and cutting the ball back to Moses.

In their dash to defend, Spurs ignored the spacious gaps on the opposite flank, so Moses had time and space to make his strike and though Lloris got a foot to it, he could only deflect into Jan Vetonghen, who in turn could only help the ball over the line on 54 minutes.

Chelsea were suddenly ascendant and with Costa now a bundle of trouble, they should have extended their lead. Costa burst down the right this time and pulled the ball back for Marcos Alonso, who lifted his clear striker from close range wastefully over on 54 minutes.

Tottenham, as last season, looked a little stunned but responded, Harry Kane picking up a loose ball on 64 minutes and managing to pull it back into the path of Eriksen, but he could only volley into the arms of Courtois. And they rallied somewhat at the end; the roar which greeted victory was an indication of certain degree of relief.

But, for now Chelsea remain their master; Tottenham will have to find something more before this particular bridge can be crossed.

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses (Ivanovic), Kante, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro (Oscar), Costa, Hazard (Willian) Subs not used: Begovic, Fabregas, Batshuayi, Chalobah
Goals: Pedro, Moses
Bookings: Luiz

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Wimmer, Wanyama, Dembele (Janssen) , Eriksen, Alli (Nkoudou), Son (Winks), Kane Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Onomah, Carter-Vickers
Goals: Eriksen
Bookings: Dembele

Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 41,515

==========================

Mirror:

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Blues come from behind to return to the top of the Premier League
5 things we learned

Spurs started strongly with Eriksen firing them into the lead, but the Blues proved they're the real deal with a win that takes them back to the summit

BY JOHN CROSS

Victor Moses completed a memorable fightback to put Chelsea back on top of the Premier League.
Chelsea scored twice in six minutes either side of half time as Tottenham’s wretched run at Stamford Bridge continued.

Tottenham have not won at Chelsea since February 1990, a run which stretches back 30 games and yet they looked as if they might end that jinx.

Christian Eriksen fired the visitors into an 11th minute lead with a stunning 25 yard shot which flew past Thibaut Courtois and Tottenham were in complete control right up until just before the break.
But Chelsea’s Spanish winger Pedro scored a stunning equaliser in the 45th minute before Moses completed the win by winning a 51st minute winner.

Here are five things we learned at Stamford Bridge this evening:

1. Moussa Sissoko has been a disaster

He was Tottenham’s big money summer buy, a £30m deadline day panic purchase without a hint of Black Friday value for money.
Sissoko has yet to produce a single memorable or half decent performance. After questioning whether they should carry on playing at Wembley in midweek, Sissoko did not even make the bench at Stamford Bridge.
Maybe, just maybe, Mauricio Pochettino is making a point here.

2. Pre-match lights show

Chelsea put on a pre-match lights and music show just before kick off to try and turn up the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.
They did it before the Everton game, they won well, and so maybe it was done out of superstition.
But I quite like it. For years, Stamford Bridge and the atmosphere has been a major issue. At least they’re trying to improve it. But, ultimately, only results and wins really help…

3. Chelsea’s defence breached - and their tactical code cracked

Chelsea conceded their first goal in the Premier League in exactly 600 minutes.
So much for Antonio Conte’s tactical genius. The defence breached and the 3-4-3 system being found out by Mauricio Pochettino.
The Tottenham boss, somehow, found a way to completely outfox Chelsea in midfield. Dele Alli was central, Moussa Dembele dominant and powerful while Victor Wanyama controlled from deep.
It was a fabulous tactical battle by two of the Premier League’s best managers and tacticians.

4. Chelsea curse continues

Tottenham have now not won at Stamford Bridge in their last 30 visits, a stretch that runs back to since February 1990.
They were in such complete control in the first half that it looked as if that run was coming to an end.
But the way Chelsea came back in the second half says much about Antonio Conte’s ability as a coach to inspire his players, reshuffle and get them going again.
Make no mistake, Chelsea are title contenders and they have that wonderful knack of digging in to get a result.

5. Tottenham found wanting again

They set such high standards last season that we expected Mauricio Pochettino to spearhead another title challenge.
Tottenham were great first half but when things went wrong the squad was horribly exposed.
And just a look at the bench tells you where the problem lies. Vincent Janssen, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Kieran Trippier, Josh Onomah, Harry Winks and Cameron Carter-Winks. Plus sub keeper Michel Vorm.

Good young talent in there, but not big game changers. Tottenham’s squad looks wafer thin and short of title-winning depth.


====================================

Star:

Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1: Victor Moses makes it seven straight wins for brilliant Blues

IT was torture for Tottenham again as Chelsea made it a magnificent seven wins in succession to climb back to the Premier League summit.

By Paul Hetherington at Stamford Bridge

Last season, a draw here in the Battle of the Bridge cost Spurs their chance of winning the title.
And tonight, after leading through an early Christian Eriksen strike, they lost the only unbeaten record in the top flight.
Chelsea, inspired by Diego Costa, hit back to win with goals from Pedro and Victor Moses.

That was enough to see Chelsea overtake Liverpool, who had briefly gone top with their win a few hours earlier against Sunderland.

The bitter rivalry between the clubs, and explosive nature of their last meeting in May, saw both managers make pre-match calls for calm.
But Chelsea were too calm for manager Antonio Conte’s liking at the start.

Tottenham dominated possession and had the ball in the net after only five minutes.
Harry Kane applied the finishing touch to Eriksen’s free-kick but his effort was disallowed for offside.

But Spurs did take the lead six minutes later, when Eriksen hammered the ball home with a left-foot strike after Dele Alli’s run and pass, to end Chelsea’s run of 611 minutes without conceding a goal.
Chelsea didn’t have a shot until the 29th minute, when David Luiz’s free-kick was comfortably saved by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris.

In contrast, Spurs took every opportunity to fire at goal.

One effort from Kane had to be turned over the bar by Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Tottenham might also have had a case for a penalty when Marcos Alonso caught Alli inside the box.
Spurs, though, made surprisingly little of that in terms of an appeal.

Chelsea, however, finally came to life in the closing stages of a first half which brought only two yellow cards for fouls by Luiz and Mousa Dembele.
A poor clearance by Lloris offered Chelsea hope when it travelled only as far as Eden Hazard.
But the Belgian star’s shot was neatly held by Lloris.
Chelsea, though, came again to equalise in the final minute of the opening half.

Nemanja Matic found Pedro, who turned well when given space by the Spurs defence and then superbly curled home a right-foot equaliser from the edge of the box.

It was galling for Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who had seen his side dominate the first half.
And he was feeling even worse six minutes into the second half when Chelsea took the lead.
Costa produced a fine run and cross from and Moses was in the clear to strike an on-target shot which hit Jan Vertonghen on the line before ending up in the net.

Chelsea should have scored again two minutes later, after more good work by Costa, but from 12 yards the unmarked Alonso shot high over the bar.
And in what was always a close contest, Courtois had to save sharply from Eriksen to prevent a Tottenham equaliser.


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Sun:

CAPITAL GAINS Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1

Victor Moses strike sends Blues top after tense London derby
Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs lose unbeaten record days after crashing out of the Champions League

BY MIKE MCGRATH

CHELSEA looked like chumps for 45 minutes. By full-time they looked like champs.
It is the mark of potential Premier League winners that they could get played off the park for a half and STILL end up winning.

Tottenham had the whiff of a first win at Stamford Bridge for almost 27 years.

Fans were ready to party like it was 1990 when Christian Eriksen smashed into the top corner early on.
They were branded The Unconvincibles for playing poorly and staying unbeaten but this was Spurs best spell since beating Manchester City at the start of October – and there looked like no danger of a first league defeat of the season.

Then came the sucker punch on the stroke of half-time from Pedro and the miracle completed by Moses.

Within six minutes Spurs had gone from total control to staring at another defeat at Chelsea thanks to Victor Moses’ goal.
It was nothing like the thumpings Chelsea dished out against Leicester, Manchester United and Everton here when they scored 12 without reply.

But winning in this fashion – and returning to the top of the table – is every bit as impressive.
It was billed as Grudgement Day after last season’s brutal battle.

By the final whistle, the two teams looked a world away from that end-of-season clash in May.
Spurs were chasing the title on that night of bitterness – when Mousa Dembele scratched Diego Costa– but a top-four place now appears to be a battle.

Chelsea are completely different too. Antonio Conte’s three-man defence, unchanged for a sixth game, came through their toughest test since he changed system.

That meant no Cesc Fabregas, who was accused of slapping Spurs players in the nuts in the last encounter. And Danny Rose, who went nuts himself during that game, missed out through suspension so Kevin Wimmer stepped in at left-back.

Jan Vertonghen was a more natural fit but the thinking was to make sure the Belgian could keep Costa quiet. And it worked a treat for 45 minutes.
They offered a warning early on when Harry Kane had the ball in the net, latching into Eriksen’s free-kick before getting pulled back for offside.

But Spurs fans were not made to wait long before they were celebrating – and dreaming of finally winning at Stamford Bridge.

Dele Alli made the goal with a typical lung-busting run forward, drawing David Luiz into a tackle before slipping the ball past the big-haired Brazilian.

There didn’t look like much danger to Chelsea’s goal from 25 yards out but Eriksen tried his luck. And the Dane’s half-volley was a beauty, arrowing into the top corner and giving Thibaut Courtois no chance.
Mauricio Pochettino punched the air in delight after his side’s stunning start.

Conte, though, was kicking every ball in the technical area and appealing every offside, waving his arms manically after conceding a first goal after 601 minutes of Premier League football.
Instead of allowing Conte’s lads to play, Spurs pushed right up and gave them no time. Even in the full-back areas, Spurs were all over them like a rash.

It was Courtois doing the hard work. The Belgian tipped around the post when Kyle Walker raided into the penalty area, then tipped over from Kane.

They were made to rue the miss as Pedro curled in a stunner of his own before the break.
The Spaniard looked odds-on to lay the ball out wide when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area. But he produced a Cruyff-turn instead before taking aim and finding the top corner.

He celebrated by kissing his hand and touching his right boot – it was an absolute peach from the Chelsea winger.
It was also against the run of play and Spurs players looked totally deflated going into the break.
After such a devastating blow, Cheslea were inevitably on top after the break.

Costa created the winner with a surging run that saw him breeze past his old nemesis Dembele.
His cross found Moses at the far post with time to unleash his finish, which flew in off Vertonghen on the line.

Kane teed up Eriksen for a chance that Courtois did well to save, but the stuffing had been knocked out of Spurs already.
It was not as devastating as losing the title like they did last May but it was another deflating experience, especially with Conte whipping up the crowd like he loves to do.
It could have been a bigger win when Costa teed up Marcos Costa but the wing-back blazed over the bar.

WHAT THEY SAID

Chelsea forward Pedro: “It was a very difficult game for us but we are happy for the win. This is the way, game by game. There’s good feelings. I scored and it’s good. The team has a good mentality and stability. We are high on confidence.”

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: “If we analyse the game we were better. We competed very well and we were a bit unlucky to concede.

“The second half we conceded a goal very early. We are disappointed but we need to be pleased for the performance and the way we competed against a very good team.”

=================================

Express:

Chelsea 2 - Tottenham 1: Moses winner ends Pochettino's unbeaten league run to go top

THE ecstasy for Chelsea was plain to see and hear as they leapt instantly back to the top of the Premier League table. The agony for Spurs was even more vivid as their Stamford Bridge jinx haunted them once again.

By JIM HOLDEN

When will Tottenham ever break free of the hoodoo that has seen them fail to win away to Chelsea since 1990?
Defeat yesterday in a demanding and compelling London derby also ended their unbeaten run in the League this season.

Spurs are now eight points adrift of the leaders in fifth place --- yet in the first half here they were the team who played like potential champions, taking the lead with a stupendous goal from Christian Eriksen.

It is a measure of the revolution instigated by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte that his side fought back with brilliant verve and claim victory thanks to strikes from Pedro and Victor Moses.

For a few hours Manchester City and Liverpool had claimed top spot. But this Chelsea will take some budging.

The intensity of the match was never-ending, but only in a sporting sense. Thankfully, there was no hangover from the furies of the match at the end of last season that ended Tottenham’s title challenge then.

This time it was all football --- and in the opening period Chelsea were severely discomforted by the intense pressing tactics of Spurs, who refused to allow them easy possession at the back.
An early free-kick almost brought a goal for Kane, but he was flagged offside. No matter, the visitors took the lead in the 10th minute with a blistering left-foot drive from Christian Eriksen.

It had been exactly 600 minutes, or ten hours if you prefer, since the previous Premier League goal conceded by Chelsea in their rise to the top.

All good things come to an end, and it had taken a magnificent goal.
There was nearly another when Kane ran with menace at the Chelsea defence only to see his powerful shot was pushed over the bar by Thibaut Courtois.

The passing of Spurs was crisp and precise --- as vital to their control as the high energy closing down of their opponents.

Chelsea took half an hour to make any impression on this game, when David Luiz sent in a free-kick saved by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris.

It’s impossible, of course, for any team to maintain a constant pressing tempo for a whole game, and gradually the home side began to create a threat themselves.

Just before the break Lloris sent a goal-kick straight to Eden Hazard, and redeemed himself by saving the subsequent shot from the Belgian.

But there was nothing the Spurs keeper could do about the stunning equaliser from Pedro right on half time. The little Spanish ace received the ball on the edge of the box, made space with an exquisite trick, and curled a gorgeous shot perfectly into the top corner.
The mood of the stadium was transformed; the library now a raucous concert hall.

Chelsea were ahead six minutes into the second half. They won the ball pressing in midfield and Diego Costa went on a superb driving run down the left flank before crossing low for Victor Moses to shoot home at the far post.

Suddenly, the home side were rampant, and Spurs trying to cling on.
Another cross from Costa swiftly followed; this time Marcos Alonso launched a wonderful chance into orbit high over bar.

In the end it didn’t matter for Chelsea as they captured a sixth straight victory.

CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic 80th), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Oscar 83rd), Costa, Hazard (Willian 76th).

TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Wimmer; Wanyama, Dembele (Janssen 83rd); Son (Winks 65th), Alli (N’Koudou 73rd), Eriksen; Kane.

Man of the match: PEDRO --- His magnificent goal turned the match, and the skills on the ball of the former Barcelona star were a delight to watch.



Monday, November 21, 2016

Middlesbrough 1-0



Independent:

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1

Diego Costa fires Blues to the top of the league in firm title warning
Costa continues his brilliant run of form as he unlocks a stiff Boro defence to maintain Chelsea's winning streak

Michael Walker Riverside Stadium

Scoring freely, conceding nothing, Chelsea’s perfect storm of form rolls on. Antonio Conte’s emerging team have now won six in a row and sit top of the Premier League as they prepare to face Tottenham at home and Manchester City away in the next two games.

It was 1-0 here, but it is 17-0 over the past six league matches. It is now ten league goals for Diego Costa, while it is approaching ten hours since someone scored past Thibaut Courtois.

The last player to do so was Arsenal’s Mesut Özil, who made it 3-0 before half-time a week after Liverpool had won at Stamford Bridge. But that was in September. It feels a long time ago.
In the second half of that Arsenal match, Conte switched his side to 3-4-3 and Courtois has not been beaten since.

Against a determined, if offensively limited Middlesbrough, it was 78 minutes before Courtois was forced into serious activity. He fell to his left to parry an improvised volley from Alvaro Negredo, who was otherwise isolated and ineffective.

Boro puffed a bit at other moments – Adama Traore and Gaston Ramirez firing over when well-placed - but Chelsea came through relatively untroubled.

Four minutes before half-time, Costa gave them the points with a sharp volley, a predator’s goal. This was the third consecutive game he has scored and, tellingly, Costa is scoring away from home – at Watford (the winner), Swansea (equaliser), Hull, Southampton and now Middlesbrough (winner).

No wonder Conte is calling Costa “one of the best strikers in the world” and “our reference point”. The Italian is also delighted that the Brazilian-Spaniard’s behaviour has improved. Costa has not been booked in this six-game run.

So there were reasons for Conte to smile afterwards, and he did, not least when asked if he could have foreseen this run when trailing 3-0 at Arsenal.

“It wasn’t simple to believe,” Conte said, “after two defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, that we’d win six in a row and without conceding any goals. Chelsea weren’t favourites to fight then, so it’s difficult now to completely change opinion.”

He then continued to talk his way out of questions about title challenges, but he knows his team is thriving.

Chelsea have played better than they did here, and a 1-0 lead is always vulnerable. But then Victor Valdes in the Boro goal has settled in on Teesside and provided a barrier to repel Eden Hazard, Victor Moses and Pedro.

Had Valdes not also thwarted Marcos Alonso 22 seconds into the second half, then it could have been a much more convincing victory in terms of goals.

Valdes parried Alonso’s low drive and Calum Chambers nipped in to clear before Pedro could slide in the rebound.

Boro could not have recovered from a second then. Ultimately, they could not cope with Costa’s strike just five minutes earlier.

It stemmed from a disputed Hazard corner. Alonso jumped with a clutch of red shirts and in the crush, the ball hit Chambers’ back. Spiralling into space and dropping, all stood and watched apart from Costa. He was on the move and smacked a tasty six-yard volley beyond the hesitating Valdes.

Boro were winded. Had Aitor Karanka’s team got to half-time at 0-0 they would have felt very much involved. Conte praised Boro’s defensive organization and frequently the home side had ten men behind the ball. Their aim was clearly to stay competitive as long as possible.

Yet Hazard and Moses made headway down the flanks nevertheless as Chelsea probed and probed, and in the second half, as the game expanded, further chances came. From one delightful and unselfish headed Costa knockdown on 63 minutes, Pedro crunched a volley against the crossbar with Valdes beaten.

Middlesbrough tried to engineer some forward thrust but as Conte was to say: “In this period, it is difficult to play against Chelsea.”

“This period” now extends to Spurs at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. It could well be a defining period for Chelsea.

Teams

Middlesbrough (4-1-4-1): Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio (Downing 71); Clayton (Fischer 73); Traore, De Roon, Forshaw (Leadbitter 89) Ramirez; Negredo. Subs not used: Guzan, Bernardo, Rhodes, Nsue

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic 89) Kanye, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Chalobah 80) Costa, Hazard (Oscar 90). Subs not used: Begovic, Fabregas, Terry, Batshuayi
Referee: J. Moss

==========================

Guardian:

Ruthless Diego Costa sees off Middlesbrough and sends Chelsea top
Middlesbrough 0 - 1 ChelseaPremier League Riverside Stadium

Antonio Conte pleased as Chelsea make it six wins in a row
Louise Taylor at the Riverside Stadium

Goodness knows how high on the scale Antonio Conte’s blood pressure might have registered had he nipped out at half-time and visited the NHS health bus in Middlesbrough’s carpark offering fans mini check-ups.

Watching the Italian’s technical-area histrionics it would have been easy to imagine his side were locked in a desperate relegation struggle rather than en route to going top of the Premier League courtesy of a sixth successive win.

Considering Chelsea have failed to concede a single goal during that sequence Conte generally has cause for serenity but on this occasion at least, his extreme agitation was at least partially justified by an ultra-determined, sporadically dangerous Middlesbrough.

No matter that Diego Costa’s winning volley from a badly defended corner reignited Teesside’s relegation worries, Adama Traoré’s pace and the midfield steel of Aitor Karanka’s two Adams, Clayton and Forshaw, left Chelsea looking slightly relieved to escape with all three points.

Karanka’s switch from his beloved, if sometimes rather rigid, 4‑2‑3‑1 formation to a much more flexible version of 4‑3‑3 helped a recent mini-renaissance featuring draws at Arsenal and Manchester City. It did not serve him too badly here either but Boro’s problem is that while they never look in danger of a thrashing they have won only twice all season and have a costly habit of making one unfortunate error per match.

The Teesside side started well with Gastón Ramírez troubling Victor Moses, the right wing-back in Conte’s transformative 3-4-3 system, and helping create an early chance which saw Álvaro Negredo – seeking his first goal since the season’s opening day – slice over from six yards. Unfortunately it proved to be the cue for a disappointing, less than mobile afternoon for the Spanish centre-forward which must have made Jordan Rhodes, once again sidelined, wonder precisely what he has to do to get a game.

If only Negredo had shown some of Ramírez’s ambition. Later, some woeful decision-making would let the Uruguayan down but, initially, he briefly looked capable of eclipsing even Eden Hazard – although it hardly helped the latter’s cause that he appeared to be singled out for some rough stuff by Karanka’s midfield.

After seeing Hazard clattered by a trio of early challenges, Jon Moss, the referee, finally booked Clayton for a particularly ruthless late lunge at the Belgian’s ankle.

If Hazard’s targeting cannot have been a shock, Conte looked affronted by Boro’s surprisingly effective amalgam of caution and aggression. Superbly compact as Chelsea advanced, with Clayton and Forshaw intelligence personified, Karanka’s players were not frightened to counterattack, utilising Traoré’s blistering, if ill-disciplined, pace to, at times, perturb the visiting back three.

It meant, until Costa’s goal, Victor Valdés enjoyed a fairly peaceful first half. Admittedly the former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper made one outstanding save when he diverted Pedro’s goalbound shot for a corner following exemplary approach work from Hazard and Moses, but he was largely well protected.

As half-time approached Costa had been largely anonymous, with Ben Gibson and Calum Chambers keeping him uncommonly quiet but then, in the 41st minute, a chance finally fell the centre-forward’s way and, typically, he was in the right place at the right time to seize it.

Hazard sent a corner looping high into the raw November air and no Boro player reacted properly. Valdés, who had just received lengthy treatment for an injury, should arguably have come for the ball as it looped up, while Gibson and Marten de Roon were among those who seemed to lose concentration. It left Costa free to meet a deflection, extend his left foot and volley his 10th goal of the season into the bottom corner from six yards.

As befits a world-class striker, he needed only a single opening to score but Costa had already caught the eye courtesy of some radically improved discipline. Hats off to Conte for eliminating the frequent am-dram theatrics which so annoyed opponents and officials when the striker served under José Mourinho.

With Chelsea galvanised, the second half began with Moses and Hazard creating an opening for Marcos Alonso – guilty of an earlier bad miss – repelled by Valdés, with Chambers then doing well to block Pedro’s attempt to pounce on the rebound.

By now Moses was increasingly influential as he delighted in reminding everyone that Fábio da Silva was deputising for the injured George Friend at left-back and it was his first appearance of the season. Sensibly Karanka replaced Da Silva with Stewart Downing after an hour.

As icy rain poured down Clayton and De Roon began reasserting themselves against N’Golo Kanté and co, and Ramírez shot over the bar.

Chelsea’s minds seemed to be suddenly wandering and it took some extreme touchline gyrations from Conte – cutting an infinitely livelier, more agile figure than Negredo – until they refocused and Pedro’s shot hit the bar following fine work from David Luiz and Costa.

Deep into the second half Thibaut Courtois had still to make a significant save but when the call to arms eventually came Chelsea’s goalkeeper proved equal to it, saving Negredo’s shot superbly after Traoré’s pace caught his defence cold.

Middlesbrough are unlikely to be the last team similarly thwarted by Courtois, Costa and co.


=======================

Telegraph:

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1: Diego Costa scores his 10th of the season to send Antonio Conte's side top 

Jason Burt

This is a Hazard warning. Chelsea are on the rise. Diego Costa’s 10th goal of the season gave them their sixth straight Premier League victory, during which they have scored 17 goals without reply, and put them top of the table – a point ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City. The magnetic striker has his desire, hunger and discipline back.

But it was a hard-fought victory over Middlesbrough, halting their recent rally, which included impressive away draws against City and Arsenal, and it was Eden Hazard who helped make the difference; Hazard, Costa and the revitalised Victor Moses joined with the Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, on the pitch at the end in exuberant celebration.

Arms raised in triumph, the Italian showed just how much it meant and, afterwards, he spoke warmly of how Chelsea had found a different way to win after their swashbuckling swatting aside recently of the likes of Everton and Manchester United.

In fact the tenor of it even had some similarities to Jose Mourinho’s first title triumph at Chelsea when he swaggered onto the turf away to Blackburn Rovers after another slender 1-0 win, back in 2005, which opened up an 11-point lead at the top. Except this time everyone kept their shirts on at the final whistle.

No team are expected to run away with it as Chelsea did back then but, remarkably, they have eaten up City’s eight-point advantage over them and are now one point ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side. Chelsea’s next two matches? At home to Tottenham Hotspur and then away to City. It is beautifully set up.

After those games we may really know where Chelsea are at but it already feels a long time ago that they were humiliated by Arsenal and Liverpool. Not that Conte has forgotten.

That different way of winning in this game included throwing on defensive substitutions, such as Nathaniel Chalobah and Branislav Ivanovic, and eventually switching away from a back three to a four-man defence as Middlesbrough, roared on by their raucous support refused to give up. There is an incredible spirit and organisation in Aitor Karanka’s team typified by captain Ben Gibson and even if they sit just a point above the relegation zone Conte’s switch of tactics was a compliment to them.

Swap Álvaro Negredo for Costa, one Spanish striker for another, and there may have been goals also. As dynamic as Costa was, Negredo was docile.

Chelsea missed chances, they struck the woodwork, they were brilliantly denied by goalkeeper Victor Valdes but Middlesbrough could not, as Conte said, be “killed off” and came back time and time again, even if their hard work often broke down when it reached their lumbering centre-forward.

In Adama Traoré they have a quicksilver and skilful attacker, but they needed more from him than the ability to beat a man – or three – while they also showed an extraordinary appetite to simply just try and stop Chelsea.

That meant stopping Hazard. By fair means or foul. The Belgian was targeted, reasonably enough, but he is in that delicious groove right now when every time he gets the ball there is an audible, collective intake of breath from the opposition’s supporters. Philippe Coutinho and Sergio Agüero can have a similar effect.

Hazard created opportunities – aided by Moses, who remorselessly ran at Fabio da Silva, making his first start of the season, with George Friend injured, and clearly identified as a weak link in defence.

There was a clever reverse pass from Hazard, with Moses slicing wide from six yards, and then an even cleverer chip which Moses cut back into Pedro’s path. Valdes wonderfully tipped over the powerful first-time shot.

Then the Boro keeper was beaten. The nature of the concession rightly infuriated Karanka as Costa’s header, from Hazard’s corner, struck Calum Chambers on the back and spun up into the air. No Middlesbrough defender, nor Valdes, reacted quickly enough – but Costa did, keeping a hawk-like eye on the ball to crash home a close-range volley.

Valdes denied Marcos Alonso, twice, from strong angled shots but Chelsea should have gone further ahead. First, David Luiz stepped forward to pick out Costa with a curling cross that the striker headed back into the path of Pedro whose side-footed shot crashed back off the underside of the bar. Then Costa dinked the ball through to Moses who – clear on goal – slashed over.

Would Chelsea pay the price? On the touchline Conte grew ever more animated, Hazard’s influence eventually began to wane and the manager sensed the danger which was signalled as Negredo dummied and Gaston Ramirez wastefully shot over before Traoré set off on yet another dribble – there were a remarkable 12 in total – only for his cross to fall behind Negredo.

Finally the striker showed some nimbleness to bring the ball down and draw a save from Thibaut Courtois. It was, however, Middlesbrough’s only shot on target and that tells its own story.

Chelsea ran down the clock, gained the win, took the points and yet another clean sheet as they made it 590 minutes without conceding a goal. Their fans, their players, their manager celebrated. This time last season the then champions were in 16th place, just three above the relegation zone, and imploding under Mourinho. Now they are back on top of the pile for the first time since they won the title in May 2015. They are contenders again.


==========================

Mail:

Middlesbrough 0-1 Chelsea: Diego Costa's first-half strike puts gloss on a Blues masterclass and sends Antonio Conte's men top of the Premier League

Victor Valdes produced a sublime first-half save to keep the scores level, turning Pedro's shot over the bar
Diego Costa continued his fine goalscoring form by opening the scoring for Chelsea in the 41st minute
Middlesbrough failed to clear from a corner and Costa was alert to volley home from close range
David Luiz and Costa combined to set-up Pedro, but the Spain winger's effort cannoned off the crossbar

By IAN LADYMAN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Chelsea are in a groove that allows them to make attacking football look easy.

Pace, directness, good passing and nice angles. It all adds up to a potency that has propelled Antonio Conte’s team on a six-game winning run in the Premier League and taken them past Liverpool to the top of the table.

A side who looked ordinary not long ago look special at the moment. They played some lovely football here and the understanding between a group of players who are also prepared to work very hard was evident throughout. The only mystery was how they didn’t win by more goals.

Middlesbrough were plucky and committed and backed by a terrifically vocal home support. They are working hard to get things right on and off the field on Teesside.

Aitor Karanka’s team were not on the same level as Chelsea in terms of the football, though. A couple of chances came their way late in the game, but on the whole they simply couldn’t do what Chelsea could do.

The usual suspects starred for the London club. Eden Hazard and Pedro were like ghosts, appearing out of the gloom right across the Chelsea front line. At times Middlesbrough couldn’t track them and when they could they couldn’t catch them.

Diego Costa, meanwhile, scored the winning goal and led the line manfully like a proper No 9. Costa can be a nasty, sly footballer but here the Spaniard showcased only the admirable side of his game. He was brilliant and maybe the penny has dropped. He doesn’t need to indulge his dark side to get where he wants to be.

And there were other shining lights. Both wing backs, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, were a nuisance all afternoon, for example. It was a complete Chelsea performance, one that should have been illuminated by a wider winning margin.

The winner was rather scruffy and unmemorable. But it still highlighted some of the league leaders’ most important attributes.

Coming just before half-time, it originated at a corner. Costa seemed to win the aerial battle but his header struck a defender and ballooned into the air. With four Middlesbrough defenders and goalkeeper Victor Valdes within swiping distance of the ball, there should have been no danger.

But as the players in red hesitated fractionally, Costa never took his eyes off the falling ball. To use a cliche, he seemed to want to reach it just a little bit more than his opponents and this desire, allied to perfect technique, allowed him to take a stride forwards and volley it into the net from an angle at the near post.

Costa has been involved in 13 goals for Chelsea in the league this season, scoring 10 and assisting three. This time last season he had been involved in just four - scoring three and assisting one.
His 10th goal of the season, this one won’t win any beauty pageants. It was important, though, as prior to that Chelsea had found Valdes to be in obdurate form and some of their own efforts in front of goal did not often match their build-up play.

Valdes has reinvented himself impressively since his disastrous time at Manchester United. He played very well here and produced one of the saves of the season to deny his former Barcelona team-mate Pedro shortly before the goal. The build-up to that chance was typical of what Chelsea did best. All afternoon, Conte’s attacking players passed the ball sharply and simply, creating angles and overlaps with the intelligence of their running.

On this occasion, Hazard — clattered crudely and dangerously by Adam Clayton early on — ran laterally across the top of the penalty area to play the ball into the path of Moses on the right. The ensuing pass back towards the penalty spot was perfect and Pedro struck his shot true only for Valdes’ fingertips to touch the ball over the bar.

There were other impressive moments from Valdes in the first half. He saved sharply at his near post from Alonso, for example, while his first contribution of the second period was to drop sharply to his left to turn away another shot from the same player.

That the Chelsea wing-backs were able to progress so regularly was indicative of the way Conte’s new 3-4-3 formation works for him. However, it also pointed to Middlesbrough’s problem with tracking runners.

Karanka’s team never gave up and the crowd did not lose hope. Boro struggled to command possession but when they did move forwards they caused Chelsea some problems.
Late on, for example, Adama Traore broke to shoot over and then set up Alvaro Negredo for a sharp volley that Thibaut Courtois did well to save.

Still, though, it was Chelsea who threatened more regularly. One super move that saw a diagonal David Luiz pass headed back by Costa ended with Pedro rattling the bar. That would have been a memorable goal.

Then, soon after, Moses and Costa led a charge from deep that ended with the former lifting the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

So this was not a perfect Chelsea performance. There are things on which Conte will wish to work. But this is a Chelsea team moving forwards on the back of sound principles and lovely, expressive football. They will get better, too, and that is an ominous thought.



MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1): Valdes 8; Barragan 6, Chambers 6, Gibson 6, Fabio 6 (Downing 70mins 6); Clayton 5.5 (Fischer 73mins 6); Traore 6.5, De Roon 6, Forshaw 6.5 (Leadbitter 88mins 6), Ramirez 6.5; Negredo 6
BOOKED: Clayton, Chambers
MANAGER: Aitor Karanka 7

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Moses 7, Azpilicueta 6.5, Luis 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Alonso 7; Kante 7, Matic 7; Pedro 8 (Chalobah 80mins 6), Costa 8.5, Hazard 8 (Oscar 90mins 6).
GOAL: Costa 41
BOOKED: Azpilicueta, Kante
MANAGER: Antonio Conte 8

REFEREE: Jon Moss 7
MAN OF THE MATCH: Diego Costa

=============================

Mirror:

Middlesbrough 0-1 Chelsea: Diego Costa strike sends Blues top of the table - 5 things we learned
Costa scored the only goal of the game as Antonio Conte's side moved to the top of the Premier League

BY HAMISH MACKAY

Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea beat Middlesbrough to move top of the table.

The Blues came into this fixture having won their previous five Premier League matches without conceding a goal, and were ahead before half time thanks to Costa's volley.

Both sides had chances to score after the break with Pedro crashing a shot against the bar and Gaston Ramirez rushing a good chance from the edge of the box.

Unlike their last league game, though, there were no late heroics for Boro.
Chelsea have now kept six consecutive clean sheets for the for the first time since 2010, and move a point ahead of Man City and Liverpool at the top of the table.

Here, our man Hamish Mackay takes you through the game's talking points...

1. Conte's winning formula

There's more to Antonio Conte than this formation, and it'll take more than a formation change to turn a team into Chelsea, but it won't be long before more Premier League managers set their sides up in a 3-4-3.
Since their mauling at the Emirates, Conte has switched to his preferred formation and won every league game.
Now they're top of the table.

2. Traore lively, but lacking end product

A Barcelona academy graduate that cost £7million as a teenager, it's no secret Adama Traore is talented. But after a miserable debut season in England that saw him fail to start a single Premier League game, whether that talent could be converted into an effective player seemed in doubt.
His move to the North East, however, has galvanised him. He has noticeably bulked up in recent months and is putting that strength to good use. Traore provides pace, agility and flair to a workmanlike Boro side. End product is still an issue, but he's improving.

3. Chelsea on course to beat record

Chelsea notched up 10 consecutive clean sheets between December 2004 and February 2005. After another organised display at the Riverside their current run sees them on six games without conceding.
The Blues face Tottenham at home before travelling away to Manchester City in their next two games, but they're still on course to beat their record.

4. Costa set for best season at Chelsea

Costa became the first Premier League striker to reach double figures for the season when he volleyed past Victor Valdes on Sunday.
The former Atletico Madrid forward endured patchy form last season but was prolific in his debut campaign in England.
On 20 November 2014 he was also on 10 goals for the season. He dropped off after Christmas — going seven games without a game at one point — so if he can avoid a repeat the 28-year-old could be set for his best season at Chelsea.

5. Third time unlucky for Boro

Aitor Karanka's side have taken on three of the league's top four teams since last month. They held Arsenal to a draw at the Emirates before taking a point off of Pep Guardiola's Man City at the Etihad.
Against Chelsea, though, they came unstuck. The hosts had chances to equalise at 1-1, most notably through Gaston Ramirez, but left the field with nothing.

==============================

Express:

Middlesbrough 0 - Chelsea 1: Diego Costa sends Blues top of the Premier League

WHISPER it, but this was very much a Jose Mourinho-like performance from Chelsea as they returned to the top of the Premier League. No thrills, few spills, just three points safely secured and on to the next game.

By JASON MELLOR

Protected only by a thin, though of course effortlessly stylish suit, Antonio Conte shunned the sanctuary of a warming jacket for a bitter Teesside evening in very much the same way his side weathered the early Middlesbrough storm, before slowly but surely sucking the life out of Aitor Karanka’s outclassed troops.

Diego Costa’s 10th goal of the season was enough to return them to the summit courtesy of a sixth consecutive win as they sealed a victory that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, underlining their title credentials by posting a sixth clean sheet in a row.

Only the woodwork prevented them from winning by a more handsome margin as Pedro hit the bar midway through the second half, when the midfielder met Costa’s knockdown from a David Luiz cross as Middlesbrough were forced to hang on for long spells.

Karanka’s shadow-chasing side side retained hope while their deficit remained at a single goal but the gulf in class between the sides was clear as the Blues sealed a seventh successive victory in all competitions against the Teessiders, condemning them to a first defeat in four games.

The impressive Costa rewarded Chelsea’s dominance as the Spaniard put the visitors, who were unchanged for the fifth consecutive league game, ahead four minutes before the end of a tight first-half.

From a disputed corner – Middlesbrough argued that debutant full-back Fabio Da Silva had not touched the ball as it ran out of play – Eden Hazard’s in-swinging set-piece looped into the air as Calum Chambers and Gaston Ramirez challenged Marcos Alonso at the near post.

Despite the hosts having numbers back to defend, Costa reacted first to volley the loose ball home from inside the six-yard box to reach double figures for the season.

Victor Valdes was partially at fault for failing to come off his line as his side fell behind, his indecision in stark contrast to earlier in the half when the Middlesbrough goalkeeper produced a stunning fingertip save to deflect a first-time Pedro shot over the bar, after Hazard and Moses had combined to carve the hosts open just before the half-hour mark.

It was one of few clear-cut chances before the interval as Boro were largely successful in their attempts to negate the threat of Conte’s side by packing midfield and looking to hit their visitors on the break. It saw them pose a minimal attacking threat, the out-of-touch Alvaro Negredo wasting their two main openings, first firing across the face of goal from a Marten de Roon-inspired counter and then heading wide as he met Antonio Barragan’s deep cross.

Ramirez fired over early in the second half after Negredo’s dummy created space on the edge of the box for the Uruguay international, but it was a rare threat as Karanka’s side were forced to concentrate largely on how to stifle their opposition.

Middlesbrough had forced draws away at both Arsenal and Manchester City this season but, after falling behind, they rarely looked like troubling a three-man Chelsea backline that last conceded a league goal on September 24 – almost 10 hours’ football – for their best defensive run for six years, one cemented late out when Thibaut Courtois beat out a powerful Negredo volley as the hosts belatedly pushed bodies forward.

The majority of chances arrived at the other end and Alonso almost doubled the advantage within seconds of the re-start, the Spaniard forcing a fine low save from Valdes after Hazard helped on a cross from Moses to the unmarked full-back to fire an angled drive towards the bottom corner.

It came a something of a surprise that the second goal failed to materialise but it mattered little. Middlesbrough could have played until midnight without posing a serious threat as Chelsea closed out their latest victory in a no-nonsense style of which the Special One would no doubt greatly approve.

===========================

Sun:

COSTA TOP UP Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1

The Spain striker reacted quickest in a packed Boro penalty box to grab his 10th league goal of the season

BY CHARLIE WYETT 

CHELSEA took control of the Premier League title race by going top of the table thanks for a Diego Costa strike.
The Spain striker sank the home side at the Riverside with an instinctive first-half strike that took him to 10 in the league already this season.
The hulking forward reacted quickest in the packed Boro box four minutes before the break to put his side ahead.
And, at the other end of the water-tight Antonio Conte team, Thibaut Courtois pulled off a couple of fine saves to put his side at the head of the pack.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
This was Chelsea’s first visit to the Riverside since February 27 2013 when they won 2-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The only player from both sides who appeared in that match – and started this one – was Chelsea’s Victor Moses who scored. After that win, Rafa Benitez hammered Chelsea’s fans for having an “agenda” against him and also criticised the club for giving him the title of interim manager.

Chelsea went into this game with a stunning defensive record. Since switching to a three-man defence at half-time against Arsenal – while trailing 3-0 - they had not conceded a single goal – a run of five-and-a-half games. This was also the first time Chelsea have named the same starting XI for five games in succession.

Aitor Karanka was celebrating his third year in charge at Boro. This makes him the fifth longest-serving manager currently in the Premier League.

Boro defender Fabio Da Silva made his first Premier appearance since May 2014 when he was at Cardiff. It was a 2-1 defeat . . . against Chelsea. And he was not much better this time around.

Eden Hazard certainly knew he was in a game. He had his shirt pulled by Marten De Roon then after getting past his opponent, suffered a nasty challenge from Adam Clayton who was booked.
Pedro had the first decent chance of the game but was denied by a fine fingertip save from Victor Valdes.

After all that fine work, Valdes should have been quicker to react for Chelsea’s goal. Maybe he was still suffering from that bang on the head. Boro made a complete mess of clearing Hazard’s corner after the ball came off Calum Chambers’ back and Costa reacted first. Valdes should have tried to come for the ball but Ramirez, Gibson and De Roon all dithered.

For Costa it was his 10th Premier League goal in 12 games. He has also delivered three assists. That’s pretty decent.

Just 20 seconds into the second half Valdes did well to keep out an effort from Alonso. Pedro then hit the bar and Moses wasted a great chance.

========================

Star:

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1: Deadly Diego Costa sends Blues top

CHELSEA occupied top spot for less than 24 hours before being overhauled by Liverpool last month.
By Ian Murtagh

You can expect a much longer residency this time after Diego Costa’s opportunist 41st minute goal took them back to the Premier League summit.

They’ll take some shifting following their sixth successive league win over a Middlesbrough side who were outclassed but never outfought.

Antonio Conte’s side have the mark of potential champions running through their team right now.
Yet another clean sheet means it’s now just 10 minutes shy of six hours since an opponent – Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil – scored against them.

With Eden Hazard pulling the midfield strings and wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses charging down the flanks, Chelsea aren’t just effective, they are a joy to watch too.

And up front, Costa is in the form of his life.

It’s now 10 goals for the Spanish international who’s thriving in the 3-4-3 system which has taken Chelsea to the top.

Rarely can a switch in formation have paid such dramatic dividends.

Boro carved out just one decent chance but in goal Thibaut Courtois is proving as formidable as those in front of him.

The otherwise disappointing Alvaro Negredo tested him with a meaty 78th minute volley which Courtois pushed away with contemptuous ease.

It’s Tottenham and Manchester City next for Chelsea and to stretch their run, they won’t want to go into the closing stages of those games defending a slender lead like today.

They had plenty of chances to finish off Boro after Costa pounced.

Alonso tested Victor Valdes within seconds of the restart, Pedro struck the bar after being wonderfully set up by Costa.

And Victor Moses somehow blasted over the top from point blank range after another unselfish assist by the matchwinner.

Aitor Karanka is earning himself a deserved reputation for his organisational skills, showcased in Boro’s recent draws at Arsenal and City.

Little wonder therefore the Spaniard looked aghast when Costa broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time.

If the goal highlighted the striker’s predatory instincts, it was also a very un-Boro-like goal to concede.

When Alonso flicked on Hazard’s corner, the ball struck Calum Chambers on the back and with his team-mates failing to react quickly enough as it dropped, Costa was in like a flash to volley home left footed from six yards out.

This presented Karanka with a dilemma because up until this point, Boro’s gameplan has been containment and little else.

It worked – up to a point. Just twice in the opening 40 minutes was their backline breached.

Moses should have at least hit the target when Hazard found him with racing into the box on 19 minutes but sliced horribly wide.

And then four minutes later, Valdes produced a world class save to deny his former Barcelona team-mate Pedro.

The Chelsea man thought he had scored when he met Moses’ perfectly weighted pull-back with a clean connection only for Valdes to fling himself to his right and push the ball away with a strong left hand.

Boro had started brightly enough with Gaston Ramirez and Adama Traore producing two early bursts to encourage the sell out crowd.

But the nearest they came to testing Courtois was in the 36th minute when Negredo met Antonio Barragan’s cross at the far post only to head wide.

Boro stayed in the game without ever looking capable of rescuing a point. They may have tamed Arsenal and City but Chelsea proved a very different proposition.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1): VALDES 7; Barragan 5, Chambers 6, Gibson 7, Fabio 5 (Downing 71); Clayton 6 (Fischer 73); Traore 6 , De Roon 5, Forshaw 6 (Leadbitter 89), Ramirez 5; Negrego 5. Subs: Guzan, Bernardo, Rhodes, Nsue.

UP NEXT: Leicester (a) Premier League, Saturday

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 7, Cahill 7; Moses 7 (Ivanovic 89), Kante 7, Matic 7, Alonso 7 Pedro 7 (Chalobah 80), Costa 8, HAZARD 8 (Oscar 90). Subs: Begovic, Fabregas, Batshuayi, Terry.

UP NEXT: Tottenham (h) Premier League, Saturday

Referee: Jon Moss 7

===================================

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Everton 5-0



Independent:

Chelsea 5 Everton 0

Five-star Blues go top of the table as Eden Hazard inspires thrashing of Toffees
Hazard leads rout of Ronald Koeman's side to prove Chelsea's title credentials must be taken seriously

Glenn Moore Stamford Bridge

For the first time since they lifted the title in May 2015 Chelsea are top of the Premier League, reaching the summit in style with this thrashing of an abject Everton. Should either Arsenal or Liverpool win on Sunday they will be deposed, but that may be temporary too for, make no mistake, Chelsea are championship contenders.

Since Antonio Conte changed formation in the wake of the late September drubbing at Arsenal they have won five successive league matches scoring 16 goals without reply. They have been unchanged the last four matches with Eden Hazard rediscovering the form that made him Footballer of the Year in 2014-15, Pedro the elan of his Barcelona days, and Victor Moses finally looking as if he belongs at this level. Defensively they are sound, in midfield they are nicely balanced, everywhere they are confident. And players such as Cesc Fabregas, Oscar, John Terry, Michy Batshuayi and Willian are not even in the starting line-up. Unlike their rivals Chelsea are also unencumbered by the commitments of European competition, which in the long slog of English football could prove decisive.

Everton, however, had any pretensions to challenge blown away. They have not won a league match at the Bridge in 22 years and never looked like ending that barren run. Ronald Koeman changed formation to match up Conte’s but it proved a grievous error. Chelsea dominated from the start and two goals in a minute early in the first half, by Hazard and Marcos Alonso, put them in total command. Once Diego Costa added a third shortly before the break it became just a matter of how many. Five proved the answer, Hazard scoring a second and Pedro chipping in. The humiliated visitors were relieved it was not more. Their exalted front trio, Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Yannick Bolasie, may as well not been on the pitch for all the impact they had.

The match was preceded by fireworks, launched from the stadium roof. An explosion of a different kind seemed likely once the game kicked off as Coleman, seeking to compensate for a poor first touch, lunged studs-first into the shins of Diego Costa drawing blood. Fortunately for the Irishman he got enough of the ball to persuade Bobby Madley there was no foul, never mind a booking, but Costa glared darkly at the culprit when he limped back on after treatment. There is a history of enmity between the two and the prospect of Costa extracting revenge seemed high.

In the event the Spanish international kept his cool, though Everton would not go unpunished. With 18 minutes gone and Everton making what was already a rare foray forward, Gareth Barry was caught in possession. The ball was switched via Costa to Hazard on the left. His first touch was poor, but the rest were sublime. Cutting in he drifted across Ashley Williams and Coleman before shooting inside the far post. Maarten Stekelenburg looked at fault, but argued he was distracted by a run, from an offside position, by Pedro.

Once the celebrations had ceased Everton kicked off - 24 seconds later they were two down. This time Hazard was the supplier, spinning away from Barry and Williams on the halfway line to drive into the heart of Everton’s defence. He fed Pedro on the right and while the Spaniard’s cross was behind Costa it rolled perfectly for Marcos Alonso to drive through Stekelenburg’s legs.

Everton were shell-shocked. Phil Jagielka was booked for dissent, Bryan Oviedo nearly gifted Hazard another goal with a blind back-pass, Victor Moses lashed against the post from Alonso’s clever cross.
Koeman had seen enough. Oviedo was hauled off, Kevin Mirallas came on, and the visitors reverted to a conventional back four. It made no difference. Chelsea’s constant pressure forced a corner, Nemanja Matic flicked it on and Costa, unmarked, made a difficult volley look easy.

This was in keeping with the whole Chelsea performance. With the points secure they began to add artistic flourishes, but always with an end product. In the 56th minute Pedro played a backheeled one-two with Hazard who again bewildered Williams before driving inside Stekelenburg’s near post. It was Hazard’s seventh goal of the season, exceeding last season’s entire haul. Nine minutes later Costa nutmegged Jagielka then released Hazard. Stekelenburg parried his shot, but Pedro was on hand to complete a five-star show.

“Fantastica” [wonderful] was the verdict of Conte on the 5-0 win over Everton that took Chelsea to the top of the Premier League. He was not, however, allowing himself or his players to get carried away. “We don’t want to send a message out to other teams, we want to send a message to ourselves,” said the Italian. “It is important to be focussed on our work. We want to improve and are working a lot to do so.

“I am very pleased. It is important to win, but to win this way with the good football is sweet. It is good for confidence.” Of man-of-the-match Hazard he added: “Eden is a player with great talent but he is also working very hard which is very good for the team.”

Hard work, or rather, the lack of it from his players, was also uppermost in Koeman’s mind. “I expect more from my team,” he said. “There was a big difference in every aspect of football. They showed us how you need to press, they had the quality, the movement, the mentality to win the game.  Five is a high score, but really totally deserved.

“Chelsea showed a very high level in every aspect of football. They were very aggressive in winning second balls, there was a big difference between the sides. I did not expect that.

“It is good for everyone to see how quality technical players also run and work and press, they can learn from that.” Adding, darkly, that “I can change my players” the Everton manager said: “Everyone is very disappointed. It is only three points, but we need to react. We need to show this is not our level."

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill (Terry, 85); Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Oscar, 71), Hazard (Batshuayi, 80); Costa.

Everton (3-5-2): Stekelenberg; Williams, Jagielka, Funes Mori; Coleman, Cleverley, Barry (Davies, 66), Barkley, Oviedo (Mirallas, 36); Bolasie (Lennon, 60), Lukaku.

Referee: R Madley.
Attendance: 41,429
Man of the match: Hazard
Match rating: 7

==============================

Observer:

Chelsea 5 - 0 Everto

Eden Hazard inspires Everton thrashing as Chelsea top the Premier League

Jacob Steinberg at Stamford Bridge

The fans in the Matthew Harding Stand spent the second half bellowing Antonio Conte’s name, making it perfectly clear that they have a new hero at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea were so dominant they could even afford to give one of their reserve centre-backs a brief cameo towards the end of this ruthless evisceration of Everton. John Terry enjoyed a suitably warm reception from the locals as he ran on and the club captain’s reduced role was a reminder that Chelsea are quickly building a new identity under the manager who has breathed fresh life into a side that improbably flirted with a relegation battle a year ago.

They never quite got over José Mourinho when his first spell in charge came to a bitter end nine years ago. This time, however, nobody at Chelsea is pining for Mourinho.

For all that these remain early days, they will challenge for the title if they continue to hit these heights. While Ronald Koeman was critical of Everton’s failure to match their opponents’ aggression in those crucial early stages when the game slipped from their grasp, he spoke admiringly of the winning mentality that Chelsea are developing under Conte.

Nothing epitomises their resurgence more than the way that Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have rediscovered their zip and poise after drifting aimlessly through last season. Costa took revenge for a dangerous early tackle from Séamus Coleman that left him with a bloody right ankle and an even bigger scowl than usual by pulverising Everton’s ragged defence, while Hazard had a hand in all five of Chelsea’s goals and scored twice, taking his tally to seven from his first 11 league matches.

Conte insisted that it is not important that Chelsea’s victory lifted them to the Premier League’s summit, pointing out that Arsenal and Liverpool have opportunities to overtake them on Sunday. Yet any side that puts together a run of five consecutive wins and clean sheets should not be underestimated. “Fantastica,” Conte said when he was asked to sum up Chelsea’s performance with an Italian word.

Chelsea have certainly come a long way since their thrashing by Arsenal at the end of September, when the talk was of crisis and a side that would struggle to qualify for the Champions League. Conte had seen enough after that humiliation in north London, switching to a 3-4-3 system, and it has not taken long for Chelsea to feel the benefits of the Italian’s proactive repair job.

“I have never seen a team so strong playing this system,” Koeman said. “The movements of Hazard and Costa, it is difficult.”
Everton’s manager flattered Conte with an imitation of his system, Phil Jagielka’s return to the side allowing the visitors to line up with three centre-backs, but his ploy had no effect. Nine minutes before half-time, Koeman ditched Plan A and brought on Kevin Mirallas for Bryan Oviedo. Six minutes later, Costa scored Chelsea’s third, finishing confidently after Nemanja Matic flicked on Hazard’s corner.

Chelsea have made a habit of blowing their opponents away with blistering starts in recent weeks and they took control of the game inside the first 20 minutes thanks to two moments of brilliance from Hazard. Everton had started with intent, the fireworks that lit up the darkening sky in west London before kick-off matched by the sparks that flew on the pitch when Coleman’s studs raked Costa’s right ankle. Blood seeped through Costa’s sock and the Everton defender somehow got away with it, although he might have preferred an early bath given how the match unfolded.

The punishment began in the 19th minute. Missing the calming touches of the suspended Idrissa Gueye, Everton’s midfield was overwhelmed by Matic and N’Golo Kanté. Gareth Barry lost possession in the middle, Hazard broke down the left, beat Ashley Williams and aimed for the far corner, the unsighted Maarten Stekelenburg allowing the Belgian’s crisp drive to beat his dive.

There was barely time for Everton to gather their thoughts before Hazard was bursting clear again. Pedro rolled the ball across the area for Marcos Alonso, who slipped a low finish through Stekelenburg’s legs for his first Chelsea goal. “If they get the space, they will kill that,” Koeman said.
A win would have lifted Everton into fifth place but they never troubled Thibaut Courtois. Romelu Lukaku fed off scraps against his former club and the Everton forward could only watch as Hazard ran riot at the other end, a slick exchange with Pedro creating the space for him to dart inside from the right and fire inside the near post.

“He is playing great football,” Conte said. “The most important thing is Eden is fantastic with the ball and without the ball.”
Chelsea refused to stop. Costa instigated another attack, turning superbly before finding Hazard.

Stekelenburg saved his curling effort this time but Pedro scored on the rebound from close range.
Celebrating wildly, Conte did not realise that the fans were singing his name until one of his assistants told him. He looked at the crowd, beamed and clenched his fist.


=====================================

Telegraph:

Chelsea 5 Everton 0: Sensational Blues move top as they put five past sorry Toffees
Sam Wallace

This time last year Chelsea suffered their seventh league defeat away to Stoke City, their then-manager banned from the stadium, their team spirit absent without leave and the title defence already over – all of which makes the current transformation even more remarkable.

Top of the league on Bonfire Night and Everton’s defence still gently smouldering long after referee Bobby Madeley had called time on what was Antonio Conte’s team’s third successive league win, with 12 goals scored and none conceded. Led by the incomparable Eden Hazard who punched holes through this Everton team all over the pitch, and scored twice, Chelsea are the form team of the Premier League.

It was a dismal performance from Ronald Koeman’s Everton but vindication for his opposite number Conte who, with the help of a few signings, has tactically reimagined the Chelsea team from the shambles that Jose Mourinho left behind. Diego Costa, Pedro and Hazard were sensational in this demolition and their creativity and energy spoke volumes for the new 3-4-3 formation.

Conte has, so far, done exactly what was asked of him – renewing a Chelsea squad that the club always considered fit for purpose even in spite of their severe slump under Mourinho. They had the game won by half-time and they did not even get a moment’s trouble out of Romelu Lukaku, the old boy who destroyed them in the FA Cup in March.

Hazard conjured two fine goals but it was something else that caught his manager’s eye. “Eden is playing great football and he is showing his talent,” Conte said, “but the most important thing I’m seeing is that he is fantastic without the ball. He works very hard for the team, Eden, Diego and Pedro. The other players see their commitment when they don’t have the ball.”

The attitude of Costa, now the top goalscorer in the Premier League with nine, was notable especially given that an early tackle from Seamus Coleman cut his ankle deep enough for the blood to seep through his sock. The man from Brazil never wasted time getting retribution from Coleman but instead went about the more serious business of winning the game.

It was a bad day at the office for Koeman who called the game wrong tactically and his team, who seemed easily overawed, now find themselves with one win in their last six league games. There was not much you could easily recall Ross Barkley contributing to the game and Gareth Southgate will not have to linger long over the clips of the young Englishman’s key interventions.

Whatever it was that convinced Koeman to imitate Conte’s 3-4-3 formation, one could safely assume that 10 minutes into the game he was having his doubts and by the half-hour he had made up his mind to abandon it completely, although by then it was too late. Conte said later he had noticed Everton had tried to match his players up with their system but he was too polite to point out how badly it had turned out for them.

“Chelsea have shown us a very high level of football in every aspect,” Koeman said, “how aggressive you need to play, quality on the ball, winning second balls. A big difference. I did not expect that on the pitch but it happened ... it’s my job to change the team or the players and it is a big lesson for everyone.”

Koeman used a three-man defence in his team’s draw away at Manchester City, who he said at the time were the best side he had managed against, and on this occasion he defended his choice of system. “Everyone is very disappointed but it is only three points we lost. We need to react, we need to show that this is not our level. We can be better.”

His goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was poor, letting the first one from Hazard past his left hand much too easily and Marcos Alonso’s second went straight through the Dutchman’s legs. Nevertheless, Koeman will have recognised that this three-man Everton defence was unable to defend down the flanks where both the opening goals came from.

Hazard doubled back on Ashley Williams and Coleman for the first and lashed a right-footed shot in the far corner. From the restart there were just 24 seconds before Alonso converted a cross from Pedro from the opposite side which had eluded Costa.

On that occasion it was the swiftness with which Chelsea switched the ball to the flanks, starting with Hazard who turned in the centre and then spread the ball out right to Pedro who crossed low. The Belgian was superb, turning sharply to dribble between Williams and Gareth Barry to begin the move.

The third goal was plain bad defending by Everton when they failed to deal with a corner flicked on by Nemanja Matic right to the feet of Costa who lashed the ball past Stekelenburg. By then, Koeman had substituted poor old Bryan Oviedo, his left wing-back, in favour of Kevin Mirallas. He moved Ramiro Funes Mori to left-back and set up as a conventional back four.

Hazard’s second was the best of them all, starting with an exchange with Pedro in which the Spaniard flicked a back-heel in the direction of his team-mate. Hazard cut in on his left foot past Williams again and took the shot early, beating Stekelenburg at his near post. The fifth came when Costa drove forward on 65 minutes, played in Hazard and when his shot was saved, Pedro tidied up.

Later on, John Terry came on for his first league appearance since his ankle injury against Swansea City on Sept 11. The only time that Conte took his eye off the match was to applaud all four sides of the ground as they sung his name. Later he was asked for one word in Italian to describe the performance and paused to think for just a moment. “Fantastica,” was the verdict.

How Chelsea thrashed Everton 5-0 and why Eden Hazard can be one of the world's best
Matt Law

Koeman got it wrong

Everton manager Ronald Koeman went like-for-like against Antonio Conte by switching to a back three to try to deal with the triple threat of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro.
But the plan did not work, as Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Ramiro Funes Mori were all at sea in the new-look backline.

Hazard did brilliantly to open the scoring, but the Belgian was given far too much space to cut in from the left and unleash a shot. Just 70 seconds later, Everton were two goals behind and Koeman was forced to ditch his plan after 36 minutes, when he replaced Bryan Oviedo with Kevin Mirallas and reverted to a back four.

It was already too late, however, as Chelsea had the game won by half-time and Koeman only had himself to blame for showing the Blues too much respect in his starting line-up.

Conte really is the head coach

It was significant that Chelsea gave Conte the title of head coach, rather than manager, when they appointed him as successor to Jose Mourinho.
The Blues wanted a man who could get the best out of their under-performing stars and Conte has certainly done that. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are the most eye-catching examples of the work the Italian is putting in on the training ground, but it is goalscorer Pedro who has perhaps enjoyed the biggest turnaround in fortunes.
The Spaniard failed to bring his Barcelona form to Chelsea last season and did not start the season under Conte. But after being given a chance when Willian returned to Brazil, Pedro has come to life and his assist for Hazard’s second goal was his fourth in four Premier League games – more than he managed in his first 35 appearances.

Boring, boring Chelsea

Chelsea fans ironically adopted the ‘boring, boring Chelsea’ chant during their last title-winning season under Jose Mourinho after Arsenal supporters branded their team ‘boring’ in a goalless draw at the Emirates.
The Blues faithful did not care that their team was not the most pleasing on the eye when they were winning trophies, but they are certainly enjoying the exciting brand of football Antonio Conte has brought to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are irresistible at the moment 

Chelsea are not just winning games, they are playing wonderful football and tearing their opponents to pieces. Italian coaches are not renowned for their attacking intent, but, by switching to three at the back, Conte has let Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Pedro off the leash.
With Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso bombing on, the Blues often have five players swarming over the opposition. So when the chant of ‘boring, boring Chelsea’ rang around Stamford Bridge against Everton, Conte could take it as a big compliment.

Man of the match

Eden Hazard – Antonio Conte said before this match that Hazard can be one of the best players in the world. On the evidence of the Belgian’s latest brilliant performance, Chelsea’s head coach may well be right.

What Chelsea must do next

Pick up where they have left off. Five successive Premier League victories have put the Blues right in the title race. The international break will not be welcomed at Stamford Bridge, but if they can show the same form when they restart against Middlesbrough, Chelsea will be tough to stop.

What Everton must do next

Regroup. This was a painful experience for Everton and manager Ronald Koeman. He must take his fair share of the blame for getting the formation wrong, but defenders Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka had games to forget. They will need to beat Swansea when the Premier League restarts to bury the memory of this thrashing.

================================

Mail:

Chelsea 5-0 Everton: Eden Hazard nets double and Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Pedro also score to put Blues top of the Premier League

Chelsea ran riot at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night with a 5-0 victory over Everton
The victory puts the Blues top of the Premier League table on 25 points, one ahead of Manchester City
Antonio Conte's side scored twice within a 70-second period through Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso
Diego Costa added a third before the break and Hazard later got his second goal of the night
Pedro capped a stunning performance as Ronald Koeman's side were thoroughly beaten

By ROB DRAPER FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

So this wasn’t in the script. Certainly not six weeks ago when Arsenal swept past an inept Chelsea and bookmakers decided not to take bets on Antonio Conte’s future.

Maybe at the start of the season a brave few contended that the team responsible for the worst-ever defence of the title might do considerably better this season.

Still, not many had them top of the league by Bonfire Night. And fewer still imagined they would be there playing the kind of joyful, stylish football which Roman Abramovich has always craved. In the stands, the owner smiled down on it all.

Chelsea were magnificent and Everton simply couldn’t cope. Since being swatted aside by Arsenal, which prompted Conte to switch to a back three, Chelsea have won five Premier League matches, scored 16 goals and conceded none.

This season feels like a stab in the back to Jose Mourinho. The Manchester United manager may be surprised to learn that Eden Hazard has returned from his sabbatical year fresh and well. He was utterly superb. Mourinho might also be intrigued to learn that he had a certain Victor Moses in his squad who, it turns out, is an unplayable wing back; that Nemanja Matic is once more a combative, driving force in midfield and that the warrior spirit of Diego Costa has been revived.

They weren’t alone in their heroics: add N’Golo Kante and Pedro to that list. Chelsea are playing with swagger, liberated from an oppressive leader. Even at their best, Mourinho’s Chelsea rarely topped the joyfulness that this team produced and Stamford Bridge echoed to the chants of ‘Antonio’ on Saturday night. Breaking up is so much easier to do when you find your new special one.

‘Fantastica,’ pronounced Conte afterwards. ‘When you have this type of performance, you’re very happy. It’s important to win but when you win this way playing good football with good intensity, it’s great. It’s important to win with style. You can win but you have to show that you win with the idea of playing good football. It’s important to put these great players in the best situation to exploit their talent. And today there was a great atmosphere with our supporters.’

There was indeed. Conte is chief cheerleader, conducting proceedings from the bench with a manic intensity. At the end they played the Madness hit ‘One Step Beyond’, although some caution might be urged. Arsenal will resume the lead if they beat Tottenham on Sunday and Conte will need trophies to displace Mourinho as the truest love.

Ronald Koeman was bold. Everton took Chelsea on at their own game, playing a back three with a twist, with two up front in Yannick Bolasie and Romelu Lukaku. It seemed like a good idea, less so when you concede possession cheaply. They lasted 35 minutes before they switched to a back four, although much good that did them.

Koeman measured his generous praise of Conte’s team with criticism of his own. ‘I’ve never seen a team as strong playing this system,’ he said. ‘This system is very difficult to play against: the movements of Hazard, Pedro, Costa.

‘The manager has brought a winning mentality to the players. They are looking very hungry and if they keep that they will fight for the title for sure. The way they work, run and press — you can learn from that and it’s my job to change the team if I need to or change the players. It’s a big lesson.’

The first goal came in the 19th minute and the trajectory of the game was set. Gareth Barry, who endured a miserable afternoon, was robbed by Matic, who fed Costa, who played on to Hazard. Both Ashley Williams and Seamus Coleman failed to disrupt his progress. Even so, Maarten Stekelenburg should have done better when Hazard had his shot and the keeper will claim he was unsighted by an offside Pedro rushing in.

Twenty four seconds from the kick off, Chelsea were celebrating again. Gary Cahill stole the ball and fed Hazard. His delightful turn left both Barry and Williams standing and Pedro then crossed for Marcos Alonso to nutmegged Stekelenburg for his first Chelsea goal.

In the 42nd minute Matic flicked on a corner and Costa was on hand to sweep it home. On this occasion Everton had more reason to feel aggrieved in that David Luiz was in an offside position and obstructing Stekelenburg’s view. Hazard’s second and Chelsea fourth came on 56 minutes: a little touch to Pedro, a back-heel from the Spaniard and a sprint from Hazard across the Everton back line. He cut inside Williams and shot from the edge of the box. By now the away end was thinning out rapidly, though in fairness, the players had surrendered long before the supporters did.

Costa won the ball in the centre circle on 65 minutes, strode away from his man and released Hazard to shoot. Stekelenburg denied the Belgian a hat-trick but Pedro was following up to make it 5-0.
Barry was immediately substituted and, given how ragged he had been run all afternoon, it was almost like that moment when the corner man throws in the towel to spare his man more blows. But it wasn’t Barry alone who was responsible.

The entire team needed similar treatment just to spare them more indignity.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azpilicueta 8, Luiz 7.5, Cahill 7.5 (Terry 84, 6); Moses 8, Kante 8, Matic 7.5, Alonso 8.5; Pedro 8.5 (Oscar 71, 6.5), Costa 8.5, Hazard 9 (Batshuayi 80, 6)
Subs not used: Begovic, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Aina
Goals: Hazard 19' 56', Alonso 20', Costa 42', Pedro 56'
Manager: Antonio Conte 8.5

EVERTON (3-5-2): Stekelenburg 4; Williams 5, Jagielka 4.5, Funes Mori 4.5; Coleman 5, Barry 4.5 (Davies 66), Barkley 5, Cleverley 5, Oviedo 4 (Mirallas 36, 4.5); Bolasie 5 (Lennon 60, 5), Lukaku 5
Subs not used: Robles, Deulofeu, Valencia, Holgate
Booked: Jagielka, Barry, Bolasie
Manager: Ronald Koeman 4

Referee: Robert Madley 6.5
Attendance: 41,429
Man of the Match: Eden Hazard
Ratings by SAMI MOKBEL

==============================


Mirror:

Chelsea 5-0 Everton: Eden Hazard dazzles as five-star Blues go top of the league - 5 things we learned

BY DARREN LEWIS

The brilliant Belgian grabbed a double with Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Pedro also scoring to send out a warning shot to their Premier League rivals

Five-star Chelsea demolished Everton to move top of the Premier League with a devastating display.
Two-goal Eden Hazard produced a man of the match performance while goals from Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Pedro also left Ronald Koeman’s men in pieces.

Hazard opened the scoring on 19 minutes when he curled an effort around Toffees’ keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Alonso doubled the advantage just a minute later when he rifled Pedro’s cross under the body of Stekelenburg and into the net.

Chelsea were 3-0 up on 42 minutes when an unmarked Costa smashed the ball home from a corner. Hazard added his second 11 minutes after half time, sending a low shot into the bottom corner after Pedro had back-heeled into his path.
Pedro grabbed the goal his impressive performance deserved when he tucked the ball away after Hazard’s 65th-minute shot was saved.
Here are five things we learned from Stamford Bridge:

1. Brave Koeman got it wrong

The Everton boss tried to go man-for-man with Conte’s in-form Chelsea in a bid to succeed where others have failed. He got it horribly wrong. Everton’s three-man back line just could not cope with the movement and the cutting edge of the Chelsea attack. They panicked in possession and went to pieces under attack.
At set-pieces players were left unmarked (Costa had the freedom of the box to score the third) and Chelsea should have been even further ahead by half-time. Koeman still has a right to be unhappy with his players though. But he will know he is just as culpable as they are.

2. Who needs Lukaku?

Diego Costa showed the Belgian who was boss in the battle of the strikers.
The Brazil-born Spain striker proved in some style that Chelsea were right not to meet Everton’s staggering £75million asking price to bring back Lukaku.
The answer to their goalscoring woes has been right under their noses.
Costa has now scored 12 goals in 16 matches for club and country. By this stage last season he’d scored just three.
He had clearly fallen out of love with Jose Mourinho who went on to lose the faith of the entire dressing room.

Conte has managed to get his prize asset back on side - even allowing for their bust-up in the Leicester game when Costa dared the Italian to take him off. It says a massive amount for Conte’s man-management skills that he continues to inspire the level of performance that has kept Costa top of the Premier League scoring charts and favourite for the top-flight Golden Boot.
Lukaku could only look on forlornly at what might have been as Chelsea tore his side apart.

3. Manchester United must be wishing they moved for Conte!

How on earth has the Italian produced this run from the ashes of Chelsea’s 3-0 demolition at Arsenal back in September?
It wasn’t just that they were able to punish Everton’s sloppy defending. Chelsea were faster, sharper, far more hungry and industrious. They should have been even further ahead by half time and would have been had Costa not blown a gilt-edged opportunity in the minutes leading up to the break.

This is now five Premier League wins on the bounce to go top. All for the loss of zero-goals. While Mourinho at Manchester United appears to be dithering over the problems holding his expensively-assembled team back, Conte has been decisive in producing a dynamism in his Chelsea side that nobody could have predicted.

4. Conte appears to have inspired the real Pedro to stand up.

The £22million Spaniard looks a different player. His goal was the least he deserved for an outstanding performance. The Chelsea faithful showed their appreciation when he was taken off with 20 minutes left.
Before this run the Barcelona cast-off looked a passenger. An expensive mistake.
Manchester United, who had also been in for him, would certainly have considered themselves to have dodged a bullet.

Conte appears to have restored his confidence in some style. His impressive performance was summed up by his sumptuous back-heel into the path of Eden Hazard for Chelsea’s fourth.
It was from Pedro’s cross that Alonso buried his effort to make it 2-0. He is puffing his chest out again and
Willian may not be around to work his magic on the right and, before this run you would in no way have believed Pedro to be an able substitute. He is now.

5. Yes, Chelsea are title contenders again

Back in September you wouldn’t have given a bean for their chances.
They couldn’t defence, they were embarrassed at Arsenal and Conte looked to have had a massive job on even to get them into the top four.
Suddenly they are top and look a match for anyone. Spurs may have the best defence in the Premier League but right now they can’t score. Chelsea can. For fun. Yes, Everton were awful and will want to get this footballing disaster out of their system as quickly as possible. But Chelsea were seriously impressive here, keeping their collective foot on the throat of their opponents even at 5-0 up. They have won back the confidence lost after that shambolic defeat at the Emirates. They have convinced those who questioned the quality of their wins against a poor Hull side and a Manchester United team in transition. Chelsea have set themselves a new standard. And are now setting the pace in the Premier League.

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Express:

Chelsea 5 - Everton 0: Antonio Conte's men humiliate Toffees at Stamford Bridge
EDEN HAZARD’s double inspired a brilliant Chelsea to a 5-0 win over Everton – and to the top of the Premier League.

By MIKE CAREY

Chelsea knocked five goals past Everton at Stamford Bridge
Marcos Alonso, Diego Costa and Pedro were also on the scoresheet in a crushing performance from Antonio Conte’s side at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are back on top of the table for the first time since they were crowned champions in 2015.
And manager Antonio Conte secured a fifth consecutive Blues win in the league – the first time in nearly three years for Chelsea.
Hazard has been an integral figure in that run and the Belgium international had a hand in every goal.
Conte believes Hazard is back on the right path to becoming one of the world’s best players after a lacklustre campaign last term.
Conte said: “Eden played an impressive game. We all know he is a talented player, I see he is working a lot for the team and his team-mates are very happy for this.

The rout started, naturally enough, when Hazard found himself in plenty of room on the left-hand side after good work from Costa.
The forward then cut in on his right foot before bending the ball past a helpless Maarten Stekelenburg to land the game’s opening blow after 18 minutes.
It was Hazard’s fourth goal in as many league matches, which marked a career first for the Belgian.
The Chelsea fans had barely got their breath back when Alonso doubled the home side’s advantage moments later.
Offiially two minutes separated the goals, but in fact Alonso’s strike – his first for the club – came just 23 seconds after the game had re-started following the opener.

Hazard stole possession on the halfway line before playing in Pedro on the right.
The Spaniard’s cutback fell to an unmarked Alonso who drilled the ball through Stekelenburg’s legs.
Everton had no answer and Victor Moses came within inches of making it three when his effort hit the post.
On Friday, Conte insisted he had no regrets over his failed summer pursuit of Romelu Lukaku and following Costa’s scoring streak this term, it is hard to blame him.
The Brazil-born forward bagged his ninth goal in 11 matches, and Chelsea’s third of the night, three minutes before the interval when Nemanja Matic flicked on Hazard’s corner and Costa made no mistake from eight yards.
It was a destructive opening 45 minutes from the home side and the second half continued in a similar vein.
           
Ten minutes after the interval, Victor Moses found Hazard on the right-hand side.
A neat backheel from Pedro followed before the Belgian burst into the area to double his tally and extend Chelsea’s lead to four.
With 65 minutes gone Costa won the ball just inside the Everton half before laying the ball off to Hazard.
His right-footed effort was fumbled by Stekelenburg, but Pedro was there to prod home from a matter of yards.
A stoical Everton boss Ronald Koeman said: “It was not about the system, the difference was the mentality to win the game. You have to accept sometimes in life your opponent is by far the better team.”
With steely focus, Conte had the last word: “We have to continue as Everton is now in the past.”

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Star:
Chelsea 5 Everton 0: Eden Hazard and Diego Costa send Blues top of Premier League
HE might not be able to shout it – but his smile and dance said it all.

By Tony Stenson
Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard scored twice as the Blues hammered Everton at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte warmly celebrated a five-match winning streak that saw them go top of the table.
And also without conceding a goal.

The little Italian, who surely one day is going to have a touchline heart attack with his frenzied antics, has to send home for special lozenges to ease his throat.
He shouts so much that his vocal cords give up after games.
His wife thinks he sounds sexy.

Chelsea fans think their football is just as inviting.
They are in dreamland. Even cheekily chanting, ‘Boring, boring Chelsea’ as the goals flowed, although they sooned turned to, ‘We are top of the league’ at the final whistle.
Two goals from man of the match Eden Hazard was the icing on the cake.
There was also time for a late cameo role for skipper John Terry.
Heady days. Chelsea fans thought nothing could get much worse than last season.
Little did they realise that a revolution was about to happen.
They watched Chelsea get off to a flyer and had their mouths opened further with two goals inside 70 seconds from the 19th minute.

A third before half-time and it was all over.
Chelsea let off fireworks from the top of a stand then proceeded to match them on the pitch.
Even David Luiz, a player they believed had left his best days behind, is reborn.
He no longer gives Chelsea fans kittens with his once wayward and nonchalant approach.
He is now top cat. Here is a defender on top of his game and spraying long, raking passes that often carried sting.
And in Hazard they must surely have the most complete player in the Premier League.

He not only makes goals but scores beauties.
This was Chelsea in full flow and Victor Moses was unlucky with a thunderous shot that rocked an Everton post in the 34th minute.
At 2-0 down Toffees boss Ronald Koeman was forced to make a tactical change as he brought on Kevin Mirallas for Bryan Oviedo to try and stop the one-way flow. It failed.
Chelsea added a third in the 42nd minute with Nemanja Matic heading on Hazard’s corner and Diego Costa was left to drive home his 41st goal in 65 games.
Everton didn’t come to be makeweights and ferociously threw themselves into tackles but they were totally outplayed by a side that had not conceded a goal in their previous four games.
Chelsea always held the aces and they inevitably took the lead.

Pedro won the ball in midfield and fed Costa who then passed to Hazard.
With three Everton defenders around him, the Belgian magician managed to cut inside and squeeze a shot beyond Maarten Stekelenburg.
Then just over a minute later it was two after wingback Marcos Alonso had started and finished the move.

He won the ball in his own half, passed to Costa, who moved it on to Pedro and his cross was met by… Alonso who had raced 50 yards to hit home his first goal for the club.
Conte’s decision to reshuffle his side’s defensive strategy a month ago has worked like a dream.
When you add that sort of defensive solidity to the attacking verve being shown by Hazard, Costa and a superconfident Moses then you can see why they are menacing title challengers.
Conte has also got Costa’s head in the right place as the sulky petulance of last season is being replaced with a regular flow of goals from the Spain star that has him at the head of the scoring charts.

He was subject of a dreadful ankle-high tackle from Seamus Coleman that needed medical attention but ref Robert Madley saw nothing despite being only yards away.
There was little Everton could do to stem the tide.
They offered heart but could never match Chelsea and Hazard added a fourth in the 56th minute after a clever Pedro backheel.
Pedro then got in on the act, turning home in the 65th minute after Costa and Hazard had carved the opening and forced Stekelenburg to palm the ball out.

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Sun:

FAMOUS FIVE Chelsea 5 Everton 0

Blues storm to top of the Premier League with five-star drubbing of sorry Toffees

An Eden Hazard double, Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Pedro all netted for Antonio Conte's side who played some incredible football to totally overpower Toffees

BY GARY STONEHOUSE AND FRED NATHAN

CHELSEA are top of the Premier League and will take some stopping if the performance against Everton is anything to go by.

A quickfire double inside the first twenty minutes blew the Toffees away at Stamford Bridge as the Blues recorded a 5-0 victory.

Antonio Conte’s men have now reached the summit thanks to goals from Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso.

The Belgian magician got the action started on 18 minutes. After picking up possession from Diego Costa, he was allowed to drift in from the left into the area and rifle home a low right-footed drive across goal into the far corner.

And Hazard was at the heart of it again seconds later. After turning past two men, he fed the ball into Pedro down the right of the box. The former Barcelona star pulled the ball back across goal and found left wing-back Marcos Alonso, who ran onto the pass and smashed home.
It got even better before the break. Chelsea's Diego Costa, who was a thorn all afternoon for the opposition defence, rifled home from ten yards after a flick from a corner.

Hazard added a fourth in the second half as the shell-shocked visitors struggled to come to terms with the new league leaders, and Pedro went on to make it a fabulous five for the Blues.

Talk about a bogey ground. It’s been 22 years since Everton last tasted victory at Stamford Bridge. Despite 10 draws, including last season’s memorable 3-3 clash, in that time the Toffees’ winless run in west London now stretches to 23 games.

It must be a mental thing with the Merseysiders and the Blues. This was the first time they had conceded five or more goals in a match since conceding six against Chelsea in 2014.
Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s trump card. When the Belgium star is on form, so are the Blues. The trickster was at his magical best for this clash in west London, tormenting the Toffees backline and midfield throughout.
And his two goals were thoroughly deserved. He only bagged four times last season… He is already on seven this campaign.

And continuing with Hazard. His first goal ensured that he had found the net for his fourth consecutive Premier league game – the first time he has ever done that.
Starting well. And boy, did the Blues start well. Ronald Koeman’s side were simply no match throughout for Chelsea, but they were restricted from even having one single shot in the first half.

70 seconds. That’s all there was between Hazard’s opener and the Alonso’s second. A miserable minute and a bit for Koeman and his men.

Diego Costa is back to his best. FACT. The Spanish international has been involved in more league goals than any other player this season. He has scored nine goals and assisted three.

Clinical. That’s exactly what Conte’s men were as they left visiting keeper Maarten Stekelenburg with no chance. There first four goals came from their first four shots on target.

Attack. Much has been discussed about Conte’s defence and his preference to play three at the back. But his men are equally impressive up top. They’ve found the net 26 times this season – one more than Manchester City.

Pedro was majestic and should be rivalling Eden Hazard for the man of the match award. His goal and two assists were the icing on the cake for the wide man. And he will no doubt be delighted to know that is the first time since an appearance for Barcelona at Rayo Vallecano in 2012 he has assisted twice in one game.