This
wasn't in the script. Certainly not six weeks ago when Arsenal swept
past an inept Chelsea and certain bookmakers decided not to take bets on
Antonio Conte's future.
Maybe
at the start of the season a brave few reckoned the team responsible
for the worst title defence in history might do considerably better this
season, given they had no European football.
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.
Chelsea were
magnificent and Everton simply couldn't cope. Since being swatted aside
by Arsenal, which prompted Conte to switch to back three, Chelsea have
won five Premier League matches, scored 16 goals and conceded none.
Eden
Hazard has been revitalised and looks to be in the form to challenge
for Player of the Year again. On Saturday night he was utterly superb.
Hazard strikes the ball into the net to open the scoring for Chelsea against Everton in the 19th minute
Former
boss Jose Mourinho might 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.
Chelsea
are playing with a swagger, like a team liberated from an oppressive
leader. Maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe that is what has happened.
What
is also true is that, even at their best, Mourinho's Chelsea only
rarely topped the joyfulness that this team has produced of late.
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.
Arsenal will
reclaim top spot if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. And Conte will need
trophies truly to displace Mourinho. But this is as good a start as he
might have imagined.
Everton
had been bold; they took Chelsea on at their own game, playing a back
three with a twist, with two up front in Yanick Bolasie and Romelu
Lukaku. It seemed like a good idea; less so when you concede possession
cheaply and allow Hazard space to thrive.
The
first goal they conceded was a defensive shambles from the moment Matic
robbed the ball, fed Costa who in turn swept the ball to Hazard. Both
Ashley Williams and Seamus Coleman attempted to jockey and disrupt his
progress; both failed.
Even
so, Maarten Stekelenburg should have done better when Hazard got his
shot away, the goalkeeper diving over the ball which was struck into the
far corner. He will claim he was unsighted by Pedro rushing in, and
that the Chelsea player started from an offside position, though he
appeared to be just level when Hazard hit the ball.
Whatever,
Hazard, with that impish grin, sprinted straight to the bench to
celebrate with Willian, whose mother died last month. The collectivism
of this squad is unrecognisable from a year ago.
And within
60 seconds they were celebrating again. Hazard was imperious, driving
forwards and executing a delightful turn to leave both Gareth Barry and
Williams standing and spread the ball wide to Pedro. His cross was aimed
at Costa who stepped over the ball to leave it for Marcos Alonso.
It
was perhaps that which confused Stekelenburg, but even so, the sight of
the ball travelling through his legs was excruciating.
Chelsea
were playing with panache, Moses striking a post as Everton began to
look a little helpless. They switched to a back four with Bryan Oviedo
sacrificed for Kevin Mirallas; much good it did them. On 42 minutes
Matic flicked on a corner and Costa was on hand to sweep it home, Lukaku
having completely failed to mark his man.
On
this occasion Everton had more reason to feel aggrieved in that David
Luiz was stood in an offside position and seemingly obstructing
Stekenlenberg's view.
It
capped a superb half for Costa, even more impressive in that he had
taken a brutal kick to the lower shin early on from Coleman, for which
the defender wasn't even booked. By the interval, the blood seeping
through his sock was clear for all to see. He might even have added
another on the stroke of half-time, racing away to strike the post.
Whatever Everton tried now seemed destined to fail. Chelsea were in the
mood to do considerable damage, none more so than Hazard.
His second
and Chelsea's 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, where no one dared touch him. He cut inside Williams and shot
inside the near post. He was almost teasing Everton with every touch.
By
now the away end was thinning out rapidly. Inevitably there would be
more. Chelsea had a playful air, almost a duty to entertain. Again, the
contrast with the previous regime was stark. Costa went close with an
acrobatic strike on 62 minutes. But he then won the ball in the centre
circle on 65 minutes, strode away from his man and released Hazard to
shoot.
Stekenlenburg denied the Belgian a hat-trick but Pedro was following up to make it 5-0. It was a rout in every sense.
nice
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