A dominant Chelsea performance saw them claim am easy three points against Premier League champions Leicester on Saturday. Goals from Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses sealed the win, which lifted quite a lot of pressure off Antonio Conte. He had been rumoured to be on his way out just days before, but now his side look full of confidence.
Conte continued with the 3-4-3formation which he used against Hull. There was just a single change from that victory, as Willian was absent after the death of his mother. Pedro stepped in for the Brazilian, playing alongside Eden Hazard in attacking midfield. That left John Terry on the bench, despite his return to fitness. He was alongside four other academy graduates, which is a very good sign for the club.
When the Blues tested out this new tactic against Hull, it took them 45 minutes to get used to it. They settled back into it from the start at Stamford Bridge, getting onto the scoresheet early. Costa’s opener came after just seven minutes, as he fired home after getting on the end of a flick on from Nemanja Matic. That move came from a corner, which seem to really trouble this Leicester defence at the moment.
David Luiz hit the post from a free-kick as Chelsea heaped the pressure onto the champions. Pedro and Hazard clicked in behind Costa, and they didn’t need any help for the second goal. The Spaniard played the ball through, and the Belgian rounded Kasper Schmeichel before scoring.
Things were a little more difficult in the second half. Leicester pushed to get back in the game, and they were almost helped by Luiz. He hit his own post, giving Thibaut Courtois a scare. Conte brought on Nathaniel Chalobah to sure things up in midfield, and the young Englishman did slightly more than that.
Victor Moses, who was fantastic again in the right wing back role, burst forward with pace, playing it to Chalobah. It was his first ever appearance at Stamford Bridge, despite it being his 100th professional game. The England under-21s man played Moses in with a back-heel, and the Nigerian applied the finish to make it three.
With the game wrapped up, Conte brought on two more young stars. Moses was replaced by Ola Aina, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced Hazard. The manager seems to be making the most of the academy graduates. Dominic Solanke was also on the bench, and the manager’s substitutions give him a lot of hope, even if they don’t please Diego Costa. The forward publically yelled at Conte to make changes, a move which his manager clearly didn’t take too kindly to.
Next up for the Blues is a huge game with Manchester United. Jose Mourinho heads back to Stamford Bridge, with the new 3-4-3 likely to get a huge test.
LCN man of the match: Victor Moses