FRANK LAMPARD’S CHELSEA moved to within a point of the Premier League summit with a 4-1 win over Sheffield United as the big-spending Blues’ fine form continued.
After an underwhelming start to the campaign, Chelsea’s €289 million investment in the transfer window is beginning to bear fruit as a fourth consecutive win in all competitions moved them up to third in the table.
Three of the new signings, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner scored, while another Hakim Ziyech won man-of–the-match for two assists.
Sheffield United remain rooted to the foot of the table without a win this season and just like in defeat at Liverpool two weeks ago, they failed to build on a dream start from David McGoldrick’s opener.
A cleverly-worked corner caught Chelsea off guard as George Baldock’s cross was turned goalward by Sander Berge and McGoldrick flicked the ball past Edouard Mendy to remind Irish fans what they will be missing as he has called time on his international career.
GOAL FOR THE BLADES ⚔️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 7, 2020
What a finish from McGoldrick! ⚽️
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That was the first goal Mendy had conceded in the Premier League and ended Chelsea’s run of five straight clean sheets as Lampard has focused on ending the dreadful defensive record that blighted his first season in charge.
Tammy Abraham had initially been one of the casualties of the backing Lampard was given in the transfer market, but has won his place in the side in recent weeks with Werner moving out to the left.
The England international turned home Mateo Kovacic’s cut-back for his fourth goal of the season to restore parity on 23 minutes and Chelsea never looked back.
Werner smashed against the crossbar after Aaron Ramsdale could only parry a dangerous Ziyech free-kick.
However, Chris Wilder’s men did not learn their lesson as from another Ziyech set-piece, Chilwell bundled the ball in off his hip.
Ramsdale turned another Chilwell effort behind before half-time, but it seemed only a matter of time until Chelsea killed the game off as they dominated the second-half.
The hosts had to wait until 13 minutes from time for the third with Ziyech’s wicked free-kick delivery again creating havoc. This time the Moroccan picked out Silva to flick home his first Chelsea goal.
Moments later, Werner was put through on goal from Ziyech’s defence-splitting pass, but the German hit the woodwork for the second time when his lob over Ramsdale came back off the post.
The German international was not to be denied an eighth goal since his move from RB Leipzig on 80 minutes when he hammered the ball past Ramsdale.
Dropping of points is a major concern already. The performance was good yesterday I thought. Hitting the post twice and the crossbar and add in Pickford had the game of his life, these kinda days happen every once and a while but we have to start putting teams away. City dropping points aswell against struggling villa shows they’re not invincible but Liverpool have to start putting teams away before city are out of sight. Can’t be depending on a comeback like last season when we were 14 points behind them at 1 stage only to finish a point behind them on the final day.
@James horgan: not good enough last season and def not good enough this yr. They need to concentrate on qualifying for europe next yr and prioritise the FA or CARABOO as to keep the fans happy.
@Sean Bourke: “concentrate on qualifying for Europe”. Are you for real. They’ll finish in top 3 and more than likely top 2 with city winning the league. Arsenal will die off, Chelsea and spurs aren’t exactly setting the world on fire and united are united. No fears of any of the rest, just trying to keep pace with city. Which they aren’t at the moment but a long way to go.
@James horgan: “and united are united” ….. What’s that supposed to mean? They stick together?
@Stephen Foster: it means they won’t be anywhere near challenging for a title so Liverpool or City or spurs or whoever has eyes on winning it won’t even be taking uniteds results into consideration
@James horgan: recent form, results, and a look at the Premiership table would suggest otherwise.
@Stephen Foster: Man united are currently 8th. What are you on about
@James horgan: James don’t be taking that bait…
@Darren Fitzpatrick: he did tho lol
@Sean Bourke: he did :(
@James horgan: United are United! That’s a ridiculous statement. The most successful team in premiership history. If United are United they’ll finish above Liverpool as they have done more often than not over the last 30 years
@James horgan: omg get the thermometer out
@James horgan: and now they are 4th?
Bigger concern is that some players, Trent most of all, are too casual and look like they don’t care. Liverpool decided to rely on injury prone players so can’t use that excuse. The group they have should be doing better.
This result wouldn’t have been a disaster if the previous games were won . Mane is a big loss and a mistake letting him go , it makes it all so worse when ox was on more money than him .Too many players are off the pace at once , and if this run gets worse the fans will be on the Glazers miserly uncles , John Henry and co .
@Tricksy: he didn’t want to be there. His time ran it’s course. This mane missing is growing legs for now reason. Apart from the last 6 months of last year there previous 18 where poor from
Mane. Albeit he always gave you 100 percent, had had been lacking world class quality for a bit. I’m not haven him gone as the one sole reason we haven clicked yet
@Tricksy: Mane wanted to go they didn’t let him go if a player wants to leave good luck to him it can’t be as simple as Mane leaving ,form from at least 5/6 players has been poor and at that level if your not on it you get found out