sunderland 4-2

Independent:


We can keep all our striking talent happy, insists Ancelotti

Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4

By Simon Turnbull at Stadium of Light



It is not so much the $64,000 question as the £50m version. So how exactly is Carlo Ancelotti going to fit Fernando Torres into the forward equation of a team who attacked with such verve on Wearside last night, exacting revenge for the 3-0 home defeat against Sunderland in mid-November that precipitated Chelsea's mid-season slump?

The manager of the reigning Premier League champions shrugged his shoulders and gave a wry smile. "I know very well he is not a goalkeeper, a defender or a midfield player," Ancelotti said, when asked how he would accommodate the record signing by a British club. "He is a striker. He doesn't have a problem playing with Didier Drogba and any other striker. Torres can play in any team because he has fantastic ability. We don't have a problem putting him in our squad."

The Chelsea manager also made it clear there would be "no problem" in Torres making his debut at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, even though the visitors happen to be his former employers. "He can play against Liverpool, Ancelotti said of the Spaniard, who put in his first shift as a £25,000-a-day Chelsea player yesterday, working out on his own at the club's Cobham training base.

On the evidence of last night's cracker of a contest, Torres will slot into a 4-3-1-2 formation, featuring Nicolas Anelka in the kind of attacking support role in which the veteran Frenchman revelled – on this occasion, playing behind the Ivorian duo Drogba and Salomon Kalou. "Maybe we play with two strikers," Ancelotti pondered. "It doesn't change a lot. With a diamond in midfield, our shape doesn't change too much. Today Anelka played very well in that position. He was very dangerous."

He was that, although in claiming their third successive Premier League win – which keeps them in fourth place, 10 points behind leaders Manchester United – the reigning champions were a danger to themselves at the back. With just four minutes on the clock, they afforded Phil Bardsley the freedom of the left flank, allowing the former Manchester United full-back to advance to the edge of the penalty area – with John Obi Mikel offering only a token challenge – before unleashing a right-foot shot that sped past goalkeeper Petr Cech into the far corner.

Still, the boys in blue managed to claw their way back on to level terms. On the quarter hour Michael Essien lofted a pass to the left side of the home penalty area and Ahmed Elmohamady, Sunderland's Egyptian midfielder, sent Ashley Cole tumbling with a clumsy challenge. Frank Lampard made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Eight minutes later the champions were 2-1 up. The goal was brilliantly fashioned by Anelka, with a left-foot pass from just before the half-way line that released Kalou. Still, with Craig Gordon haring out of his goal, it required a deft touch from the Ivorian striker – a flick with the outside of his right boot – to find the back of the net.

The tide had turned but Sunderland managed to stem the visitors' attacking flow long enough to hit back in the 26th minute. From a free-kick outside the right edge of the Chelsea penalty area, Kieran Richardson squeezed a low shot in between the defensive wall, the diving Cech and the near post.

It was another sucker punch for Chelsea to absorb but they ought to have been back in front before the interval as they all but laid siege to the home penalty area, Gordon thwarting Essien and Drogba and his crossbar denying Branislav Ivanovic.

It was a similar story after the break. In one goalmouth scramble French midfielder Steed Malbranque appeared to rescue the home side with a combination of his upper arm and his chest. The pressure, however, finally told on the hour mark.

Lampard struck a right-foot shot from outside the left edge of the box that Gordon could only parry one-handed to Terry, who beat the Sunderland keeper with a right-foot strike from 12 yards. It was no more than Chelsea deserved.

The wonder was they did not double their tally. Put clear by Anelka, Kalou struck one shot that cannoned off both posts and wide. Not until injury time did they nudge into the comfort zone, Florent Malouda cutting a ball back from the left by-line and Anelka nonchalantly turning it past Gordon.

"Chelsea were fantastic," Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, acknowledged. "They looked to be back to what they have been. With Torres and Drogba up front and Anelka in behind... wow. That sounds good to me."

For the second time in two days, Bruce was almost lost for words. Asked to recount his reaction when he learned of Torres' £50m move, Bruce said: "I'd been to the pictures to see The King's Speech. When I came out I nearly had a stutter as well."


Sunderland (4-4-2) Gordon; Onuoha (Cook, 87), Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley; Elmohamady, Henderson, Malbranque (Colback, 82), Sessègnon; Richardson, Gyan. Substitutes not used Mignolet (gk), Mensah, Angeleri, Riveros, Reed.

Booked Richardson.


Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira, 90), Terry, Ivanovic, Cole; Essien, Lampard, Mikel (Ramires, 77); Anelka, Drogba, Kalou (Malouda, 81). Substitutes not used Turnbull (gk), Bruma, McEachran, Sala.


Man of the match Anelka.

Match rating 8/10.

Referee M Halsey (Lancashire).

Attendance 37,855.




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Telegraph:



Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4

By Rob Stewart



He may have been hundreds of miles away back in London but the Fernando Torres effect was already clearly in evidence here at the Stadium of Light.

Everyone knows the most expensive footballer in the history of English footballer can be an inspirational presence on the field, but on Tuesday night the £50 million striker’s new Chelsea colleagues showed just how influential he can be even when he’s got his feet up.

Defensively Chelsea might look shaky but in taking their tally of goals in 10 in three Premier League games, Carlo Ancelotti's forwards provided evidence that Torres has had a galvanising effect on Stamford Bridge after being on the payroll for less than 24 hours.

Even Ancelotti admitted that Torres and fellow new recruit David Luiz had caused the champions to raise their game after his team overcame a dreadful start to glide to a comfortable victory.

“Everyone is happy because they all know that our squad has really improved with these new players and I’m sure that the players had more motivation for this season,” Ancelotti said.

Chelsea looked like a side needing Luiz rather than Torres early on when Phil Bardsley give Sunderland an early lead before Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou put Chelsea in command only for Kieran Richardson to equalise in a humdinger of a first half.

Ancelotti’s side settled down after his half-time pep talk and John Terry and Nicolas Anelka secured victory for Chelsea in an increasingly one-sided contest.

It took just over three minutes for the smiles the signing of Torres put on the faces of travelling Chelsea supporters to vanish as the visiting defence disintegrated and the tone was set for a breathless first half.

Normally there would have been little danger when Bardsley picked up possession on the halfway line. But the left back drove forward, avoiding John Obi Mikel before beating the unsighted Petr Cech with a 20-yarder that swerved past Branislav Ivanovic.

It was the sort of defending that has been anathema to Chelsea in recent years, but then Sunderland winger Ahmed Elmohamady gave his opponents a helping hand, clumsily fouling Ashley Cole in the penalty area, which allowed Lampard to sweep the spot-kick past Craig Gordon in the 15th minute.

Defensive frailties were clearly proving contagious because the Sunderland back four opened up in the 23rd minute after the ball ricocheted kindly to Nicolas Anelka. He sent Kalou scampering between centre-halves Titus Bramble and Anton Ferdinand before rolling the ball beneath the onrushing Gordon.

Elmohamady might be lousy defensively but he had enough about him to outwit a leaden and ponderous Chelsea defence to pave the way for Sunderland’s equaliser.

After Elmohamady skipped past John Terry he was fouled by Mikel 22 yards from goal and Richardson stepped up to knock the ball under the leaping Chelsea wall and beyond the motionless Cech in the 26th minute.

The second half began as frenetically as the first had finished with Chelsea regaining the initiative and, following Didier Drogba’s brilliant back-heel, Nedum Onuoha blocked a shot from Lampard, who then saw Gordon keep out his sidefooted effort from 10 yards out.

Chelsea were running rings around Sunderland and it was no surprise when the Premier League champions regained the advantage on the hour.

Following a Drogba corner, Lampard’s 20-yarder was beaten away to Terry who knocked the loose ball in from 10 yards out for his second goal this season.

Kalou almost extended the lead shortly afterwards when he was invited to shoot by Anelka but his shot struck both of Gordon’s posts.

Sunderland, for whom debutant Stephane Sessegnon impressed, ran out of steam in this increasingly one-sided contest and Anelka wrapped up a comprehensive victory in stoppage time when substitute Florent Malouda darted to the byline before setting up his French compatriot, who finished with a deft flick for his 14th goal this season.

Ans so Chelsea gained revenge for the 3-0 humiliation they suffered at the hands of Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in November and secured their sixth successive win on Wearside.

They will go into this Sunday’s game with Liverpool in good heart, but their defensive inadequacies will give Kenny Dalglish’s team optimism.




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Guardian:


Nicolas Anelka makes case for Chelsea's old guard at Sunderland


Kieran Richardson Sunderland Chelsea Chelsea's John Terry challenges Kieran Richardson, scorer of Sunderland's second goal, as Ashley Cole looks on. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPA

Frank Lampard is widely regarded as the complete midfielder but he was given a run for his money by an unlikely team-matetonight. Stationed unusually deep, the imperious Nicolas Anelka inspired an important Chelsea win courtesy of a stream of sublime passes complemented by the odd incisive tackle and a deft late goal. After a deceptively bright start Sunderland ultimately floundered in the face of Anelka's strength and attacking vision and Carlo Ancelotti's team, initially wobbly in defence, gained a measure of revenge for their 3-0 humiliation against Steve Bruce's players at Stamford Bridge last autumn.

Afterwards attention immediately switched to two new faces absent here but expected to be involved against Liverpool at the weekend. "Do you need Fernando Torres and David Luiz?" Chelsea's manager was asked. Ancelotti laughed before assuring everyone the £75m invested in luring the pair to west London was money well spent.

"Torres is a fantastic player," he said. Next came a hint that Roman Abramovich's release of the purse-strings represented an endorsement of a managerial regime rocked by Ray Wilkins' departure.

"It's important," agreed Chelsea's manager. "We are able to move on now." The road forward may well feature a switch to 4-4-2 with Torres and Didier Drogba up front. "We can play with two strikers," he said. "We have a lot of possibilities now and we can play from the back with more quality."

David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, may not quite have made leader of the opposition but he explored a new avenue last night when he was "unveiled" as Sunderland's nonexecutive vice-chairman. Sitting alongside Ellis Short, the Sunderland owner, and the chairman, Niall Quinn, Miliband did not have long to wait before he could cheer a goal.

Despite operating out of position at left-back, Phil Bardsley has arguably been Bruce's best player of late. He showed off his overlapping credentials by receiving the ball on the halfway line and advancing unimpeded before finally cutting in and sidestepping Mikel John Obi with unexpected ease. All that remained was for Bardsley to direct a dipping right-foot shot beyond Petr Cech from the edge of the area.

Were Miliband still in his old job in the last government he would now have been embroiled in the Egypt crisis but instead he found himself watching Bruce's Egyptian right-winger Ahmed Elmohamady conceding a penalty for seeming to climb on top of Ashley Cole.

Frank Lampard stepped forward to score from the spot, sending Craig Gordon the wrong way and, shortly after that, Ancelotti's men were ahead. Anelka was already impressing at the apex of Chelsea's midfield diamond, revelling in reminding everyone that Jordan Henderson is not a holding midfielder, and his astutely timed pass enabled Solomon Kalou to direct the ball into the back of an unguarded net with the outside of a foot after Gordon had unwisely and unnecessarily dashed way off his line.

"Anelka played very well," agreed Ancelotti who may yet re-invent the striker as a playmaker par excellence.

"I was very happy for him, he's very dangerous in that position, Sunderland found it very difficult to mark him when he went forward."

As he spoke, it was becoming hard to remember that a first half played at breathtaking speed had been pretty even. Bruce's team equalised after Mikel's foul on Elmohamady earned them a free-kick 20 yards out on the right of the area. Kieran Richardson delivered that dead-ball brilliantly, his low left-foot strike curving in at the near post and leaving Cech rooted to the spot.

Yet as the second period unfolded Richardson and company faded. With Bruce's defence dropping worryingly deep Cole, John Terry, Lampard, Michael Essien and José Bosingwa all came into their own with Lampard repeatedly second-guessing Henderson.

Lampard might have scored his second goal had a hallmark late dash into the box not ended with the resultant shot being blocked by Nedum Onuoha but Chelsea were ascendant. During a particularly desperate goalmouth scramble, Steed Malbranque chested clear just as Kalou seemed set to score again from point-blank range.

After clinging on by their fingernails Sunderland lost any resemblance of a grip on the game when the fall-out from a disputed corner saw Gordon parry Lampard's shot and, by way of a deflection, John Terry volley home the rebound.

There was a moment of late tension when Richardon and Branislav Ivanovic touched foreheads and were both booked in the wake of a dispute over the former's challenge on Bosingwa. Anelka, though, could not be overshadowed and his deft close-range finish ensured the evening ended with all eyes still on him.

"Anelka is one of them players who can play anywhere," said Bruce. "If Carlo has Torres and Drogba up front and Anelka behind, wow.

"Chelsea were fantastic. They looked like Chelsea again. Whether or not they can claw back 10 points and challenge for the title is debatable but they're pretty formidable," Bruce added.




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Mail:


Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4: Torres not needed yet as free-scoring Blues hit four again

By Sportsmail Reporter


After four more goals and what amounted to a fine performance from Nicolas Anelka, some might question the wisdom of Chelsea smashing the British transfer record to sign Fernando Torres.

But David Luiz, the Brazil centre half whose arrival at Stamford Bridge amounted to little more than a £25million footnote on Monday, certainly looks like a shrewd investment.

Until John Terry struck in the 60th minute and Anelka crowned a superb individual display with a delighftul goal in second-half stoppage time, Chelsea appeared to be in serious danger.

Carlo Ancelotti might have declared their slump to be over when his side put four past Bolton in their last Barclays Premier League match, but an alarming degree of fragility at the back suggested otherwise.

Down within four minutes after allowing Phil Bardsley to beat Petr Cech from 20 yards, they then contrived to surrender the advantage that had been established with a penalty from Frank Lampard and a further goal from Salomon Kalou.

Kieran Richardson was invited to try his luck with a free kick, and he responded with a cleverly executed effort that, hit low, squeezed between Cech and his near post.

It must have been very troubling for Ancelotti. His captain, although scoring the vital goal, looked troubled by what is probably another injury.

Terry was hesitant against a vibrant, fast-moving Sunderland attack - a clear sign that he was not in peak physical condition when he pulled on his boots.

When it comes to organising his team for what promises to be a fascinating clash with Liverpool on Sunday, Ancelotti is unlikely to drop Terry.

He is more likely he will move Branislav Ivanovic back to right back and deploy Luiz alongside Terry.

How Ancelotti then accommodates Torres will be more interesting to see, but we were probably given an insight into his plans here.

Anelka was deployed in the hole behind Didier Drogba and Kalou and the France forward was absolutely outstanding, scoring that one goal and creating another.

When pressed on the issue, Ancelotti admitted it pointed to a change in approach from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2.

'I will probably play two strikers, maybe with a diamond,' he said. 'That will not change our system very much.'

Ancelotti probably has it in his mind to go with Torres and Drogba as a pairing with Anelka in front of a midfield three of Lampard, Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi.

Chelsea's manager certainly hopes to select Torres on Sunday. Steve Bruce was thankful that at least his Sunderland side did not have to face the £50m striker.

Told of the plan to play Anelka playing behind Torres and Drogba, Bruce's response was 'wow'.

'Anelka is that good he can play anywhere,' he said.

Responding to the signing of Torres, he added: 'I went to see The King's Speech at four o'clock. When I came out I nearly had a stutter 'n all!'

Sunderland were among the clubs who lost rather than gained a star striker, but they deserve credit for the way they have responded to the departure of Darren Bent.

They followed his £24m move to Aston Villa with a fine 2-1 win at Blackpool and under the guidance of Steve Bruce they threatened to inflict yet more pain on a Chelsea side they had already beaten once this season.

It was fourth minute goal from Bardsley, the left back turning inside Ivanovic before guiding a 20-yard shot beyond the reach of Cech.

From the defending champions, however, came a swift response. When Ahmed Elmohamady sent Ashley Cole crashing to the ground inside Sunderland's penalty area in the 15th minute, Mark Halsey pointed immediately to the spot.

Lampard converted with ease, but it was nothing like as easy as the goal that followed from Kalou eight minutes later thanks to a serious error of judgment by Craig Gordon.

There was no need for the Sunderland goalkeeper to come charging out of his area, but he did so as Kalou accelerated on to a neat pass from Anelka, succeeding only in presenting the Ivory Coast international with a simple side-footed finish.

Not that Sunderland were alone in experiencing defensive nightmares.

Chelsea kept their lead for less than three minutes, Richardson equalising with the free kick.

The momentum seemed to be very much with the defending champions as the match progressed.

While Bruce would argue that Lampard's shot did not touch Bardsley - and so result in the corner that led to Terry's 60th minute winner - a third Chelsea goal had been coming.

After Lampard had seen his effort blocked by Gordon, it was Terry who took the ball on the bounce and drove it past the Scot.

The fourth arrived in second- half stoppage time, Anelka meeting a low cross from Florent Malouda with the neatest of touches.

Torres will only add to that quality but it Luiz the champions need right now.


MATCH FACTS

SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Gordon 6; Onuoha 6 (Cook 87min), Ferdinand 7, Bramble 7, Bardsley 8; Elmohamady 6, Henderson 7, Richardson 7, Malbranque 7 (Colback 82), Sessegnon 6; Gyan 6. Subs not used: Mignolet, Mensah, Angeleri, Riveros, Reed. Booked: Richardson.

CHELSEA (4-2-1-2-1): Cech 5; Bosingwa 6 (Ferreira 90), Ivanovic 6, Terry 6, Cole 7; Essien 6, Mikel 6 (Ramires 77); Lampard 7; Anelka 7, Kalou 6 (Malouda 81); Drogba 7. Subs not used: Turnbull, Bruma, Sala, McEachran. Booked: Drogba, Ivanovic.

Man of the match: Phil Bardsley.

Referee: Mark Halsey 6.



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Mirror:


Sunderland 2-4 Chelsea: Anelka and Kalou on target as Torres waits in wings

By Simon Bird


Roman Abramovic has spent £70million on sparking up Chelsea's trophy challenge, but it was the reliable old guard of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka to the rescue last night.

A helter-skelter match, with four goals shared in a chaotic first half, was finally settled by a tidal wave of Blue pressure after the break - with a strike from Terry on the hour and a brilliant dink from Anelka in injury time.

With the emphatic win comes the problem of who Carlo Ancelotti will drop to accommodate £50 million new boy Fernando Torres against his former club Liverpool at the weekend.

Surely not Anelka who was a driving creative force emphasised by a brilliant deft flick of a goal at the death. Or Kalou who was an elusive menace? Or Drogba, the leader of the battering line?

This was a Chelsea onslaught once they had sorted out their first half jitters, as Frank Lampard became increasingly influential.

Terry put the game in Chelsea's favour with the third and was grateful to Lampard for his chance - his rasping shot was parried away by Craig Gordon allowing the England defender to volley past Gordon, to relief all round.

While Carlo Ancelotti's men created an abundance of chances and goal mouth action, the finishing could have been even better, and so could have been the defending early on, showing the need for Luiz.

It was a roller coaster first-half.

One of Sunderland's big signings of January was in the stands - Labour ex-foreign secretary David Milliband cheering on his new club after being installed as vice-chairman of the Wearsiders.

His job is to raise the profile of the club and drive it forward around the globe, and he didn't have to wait long before sampling the Stadium of Light roar.

The unlikely hero was Phil Bardsley, the left back, added another crucial goal to his collection, a month after he got the winner at Aston Villa.

Bardsley, one of Bruce's star performers this season, gathered the ball on the half way line and galloped forward unchallenged to the edge of the box. The Chelsea defence evaporated, John Obi Mikel the nearest and backing off too hastily, to allow a rasping drive into Petr Cech's left corner.

It was the Scotland international's third goal in almost 100 appearances, but the home side's then conspired to gift Chelsea the lead in a calamitous eight minute spell.

Anceloti men were gifted a route back into the game after a foolish challenge by Ahmed Elmohamady on Ashley Cole allowing Mark Halsey to award a penalty.

The Egyptian toppled into Cole as he jumped and missed heading a Michael Essien dink into the box. It looked a soft award but there were few protests from Sunderland players.

Lampard dispatched with efficiency for his third strike of an injury hit season.

By the 23rd minute of a thrilling first half the visitors were ahead. The goal was as much about terrible defending and goal keeping than excellence from Kalou.

First Bardsley won a tackle in midfield but poked the ball to Anekla who swiftly found a gaping hole in the defence releasing Kalou in on goal.

Craig Gordon made his job easy by sprinting out of his area into no mans land making it a simple task to poke beyond the stranded keeper.

The ruthless Chelsea side of old would have killed the game after engineering such a favourable start, but the fragile nature of this side was exposed again on 26 minutes.

Elmohamady made amends for his early error by winning a free kick on the edge of the box drawing Mikel into a foul.

Kieron Richardson stepped up to cleverly drive the free kick under the Chelsea wall, who all jumped too early. The bobbling shot left Cech flat footed as he anticipated the target would be the top corner.

It could have been over sooner. Gordon then made a full stretch save from Essien and Branislav Ivanovic then hit the bar from six yards out after Essien's cross. Kalou was clean in on goal but his shot hit both posts.

It was fitting that Anelka's deserved strike gave the score a more realistic look. Over to you Ancelotti, as Torres waits for the call.




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Sun:



CHELSEA'S strikers reacted in the best way to Fernando Torres' record £50m arrival

Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4

By ROB BEASLEY


FERNANDO TORRES would have sat rubbing his hands, David Luiz would have watched grimacing through his fingers.

In attack, Chelsea were a dream team, creating chance after chance and their new £50million striker will fancy filling his boots for the next five years.

In defence they were a nightmare, gifting two goals and showing £21m Luiz why he has been brought in from Benfica.

It was one of those games when Chelsea just poured forward with a devil-may-care attitude, confident victory would be theirs regardless. But, instead, they got an early surprise.

Chelsea, thrashed 3-0 by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in November, were a goal down after just four minutes - and what a shocker it was, too.

Holding midfielder Mikel backed off and backed off inviting Black Cats defender Phil Bardsley to shoot.

So the ex-Manchester United man did just that, swerving a right-footer beyond a startled Petr Cech.

Carlo Ancelotti looked far from pleased and no wonder. But his team responded superbly with some sublime attacking football.

Sunderland's Ahmed Elmohamady got over-excited in the area and climbed all over Ashley Cole to gift the Londoners a lifeline.

And Frank Lampard is not the sort of player to waste such an opportunity, sending Craig Gordon the wrong way from the spot. Eight minutes later the champions were in deservedly in front.

The impressive Nicolas Anelka broke from midfield and released the lively Salomon Kalou through the middle.

The Ivorian's pace took him clear and tempted Gordon to race out of his area in a desperate attempt to intervene.

It was the wrong decision. As the Scotland keeper careered towards him, Kalou coolly slipped the ball beyond him and watched gleefully as it rolled into the net.

But just three minutes later Chelsea self-destructed for a second time.

Just when they should have steadied it down and made the most of their advantage they threw it all away.

A needless foul by Mikel - how much longer can he keep his place? - forced the Blues to pull everybody back to defend.

But when Kieran Richardson drilled in his low free-kick the whole Chelsea wall jumped as a man and the ball flew under their feet and past a motionless Cech. What a shambles!

Chelsea were in no mood to alter their gung-ho approach, though.

And before the break Gordon made fine stops from Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba. Branislav Ivanovic also hammered a header against the bar while Drogba lashed one just over.

Sunderland's only reply was a Richardson shot that was beaten out by Cech.

After the interval the one- way traffic continued. Ancelotti's men looked like a side that won the Double last season and had re-discovered the hunger for glory.

Funny what the arrival of £71m worth of talent can do isn't it? Drogba's extravagant back-heel set up Lampard whose shot was blocked, then the England midfielder saw Gordon deny him with back-to-back saves.

Even skipper John Terry got in on the act, joining the attack but his fierce shot was deflected for a corner.

The pressure was unrelenting and Sunderland were wilting.

Lampard must have thought he had finally done it when he unleashed a trademark effort from inside the box. But Gordon was again equal to it, producing a fine one-handed reaction save.

Unluckily for the keeper, the ball rebounded to Terry who rifled the ball just under the bar to make it 3-2.

Man-of-the-match Kalou then hit both posts with a shot from Anelka's cute pass but even he could see the funny side of a bizarre moment.

And Chelsea wrapped it up in injury time when Anelka was in the right place at the right time to steer home a fourth.

Lampard and Terry punched the air in celebration at the final whistle and Ancelotti looked content.

Chelsea are back - and with Torres and Luiz now on board they might just get even better.