Chelsea roared back to the top of the table with a 7-0 annihilation of Stoke. Before the match, Tony Pulis was cribbing about how the bigger clubs load the dice with favourable refereeing decisions. But Steve Bennett had no part to play in Stoke’s mauling.
It was a sea of Blues swamping the Stoke goal. Salomon Kalou recorded a hat trick, Frank Lampard contributed two, and Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda came up with one apiece.
Didier Drogba was absent from the firing squad but he did just about everything else including provide three assists. Stoke’s Tomas Sorensen had to retire hurt with an elbow injury in the 33rd minute after saving Lampard’s shot. Asimir Begovic replaced him in goal and his first touch was to fish the ball out of the net following Lampard’s spot kick.
Chelsea played without John Terry serving out a suspension but they got back Ashley Cole. They travel to Anfield for a big showdown and a win there will put pressure on Man Utd who travel to Sunderland. It is a race between these two clubs as Arsenal were eliminated from the title race following their draw against Man City.
Jose Mourinho never presided over such comprehensive destruction. Chelsea were known more as defensive dreadnoughts. But they are now close to clocking a century of goals. This was their third match recording seven goals.