Chelsea strolled to their third straight Premier League victory as goals from Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses saw off Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Hazard opened the scoring within the first 15 minutes, capping off a fine solo effort to beat Tom Heaton’s diving effort with a powerful low shot.
Willian doubled the lead towards the end of the first half, sending a shot through the legs of a Burnley defender and across Heaton’s goal into the bottom corner.
Substitute Victor Moses wrapped up the points late in the game with his first league goal of the season, thus maintaining Chelsea’s 100% record in 2016-17.
Here are the talking points from the Chelsea-Burnley game:
#1 Eden Hazard continues his fiery start to the season
Easily the biggest positive for Antonio Conte in his early days as Chelsea manager, Eden Hazard’s form has been close to flawless this season. He looked sharp, determined and eager to stamp his authority on the Clarets’ defence.
The Belgian was untouchable for Chelsea’s opening goal, using his quick feet to hare down the wing, cut back and hit a powerful drive past keeper Tom Heaton.
He maintained his high standard of performance throughout the time he was on the pitch, reminding Stamford Bridge of the Eden Hazard of two years ago.
#2 Terry misses a glorious chance to kill the game
Chelsea were desperately attempting to put the game to bed following a dominant first half and an equally dominant performance in the beginning of the second half. The biggest opportunity fell to captain John Terry in the 55th minute.
A Willian corner was superbly met by Eden Hazard on the volley at the edge of the box.
Tom Heaton saved it well, but parried it straight into the path of Terry, who somehow managed to balloon over from just four yards out.
It was an unbelievable miss from the Premier League’s top-scoring defender, but substitute Victor Moses managed to seal the deal for his captain in the latter stages.
#3 Tom Heaton saves Burnley the blushes
When a team like Burnley have their backs to the wall against a resurgent Chelsea attack, it all comes down to their goalkeeper’s form to decide the outcome of the game.
Tom Heaton – who has been a deputy goalkeeper for the English national side for a considerable period of time – had one of the busiest days between the sticks, pulling off save after save to keep the deficit down.
He could not be faulted for any of the three goals he conceded. With Hazard, Diego Costa and Willian in devastating form on Saturday, he needed to keep his focus intact in order to read every shot directed towards his goal. He may well have earned every pound of his salary at Stamford Bridge.
#4 Burnley hardly attacked the entire game
The result was probably never in doubt, but Burnley manager Sean Dyche will be fuming at his side’s lack – or rather, near absence – of attacking intent the whole game.
Apart from a 10-minute spell between the 70th and the 80th minute where they managed to win a succession of corners, Burnley seemed more than pleased to play ‘damage-control’ and rely on getting bodies in the way of shots.
This tactic proved to be effective against Liverpool last week when they conceded 81% possession after scoring twice early on, but, in this case, they were chasing the game right from the first minute and never looked like they were going to have the better of Thibaut Courtois.
When they managed to get possession of the ball, they tried playing long but to no avail whatsoever. Overall, it was a disappointing display from the Clarets in the attacking third.
#5 N’Golo Kante is everywhere
Burnley may not have arrived at Stamford Bridge with an attacking mindset, but each time they got hold of the ball and attempted to create a half-chance they were left frustrated by the presence of N’Golo Kante on the pitch.
The French pocket-sized midfielder – as always – was present all over the pitch, making interceptions and nicking the ball off a Burnley player’s feet.
His immense stamina and desperation to win back possession not just adds that extra security to the Chelsea midfield, but also gives Nemanja Matic the license to express himself as a box-to-box player. Antonio Conte could not be happier with the ex-Leicester man’s commitment every time he takes the field of play.
