Chelsea 7-0 Stoke: Seventh heaven once more at the Bridge!

Chelsea regained the lead in the Premiership title race with an emphatic display against Stoke.

With a hat-trick from Kalou, two from Frank Lampard, and goals from Malouda and Danny Sturridge, Chelsea showed Manchester United that they still have work to do. There is no question that with United winning against Spurs on Saturday the pressure was back on Chelsea to get a result at Stamford Bridge.

Carlo Ancelotti brought Ashley Cole back into the side at left back, Ivanovic replaced the suspended John Terry. Michael Ballack came into the side and played the holding role in the place of injured Mikel. Malouda dropped into the central midfield role next to Lampard and Chelsea started with three up front in Kalou, Anelka and Drogba.

Chelsea dominated the game from start to finish and the scoreline did not flatter Chelsea in any way at all which is what is impressive considering the "pressure" the players are supposed to be under.

Normally with playing three up front including Didier and Anelka doesn't normally work as Anelka can't play wide, but to me it seems alot more fluid with Drogba, more than Anelka, finding himself drifting into the wide positions.

It was obvious to me anyway, that after his performance against Spurs last week Drogba was on a mission to prove himself once more and early in the game he had blasted the ball over the bar no less than three times after being put through towards goal.

The first goal came from a fantastic first touch from Drogba. The ball was played out to him wide from left to right by Malouda. The ball looked like it was going to beat him and go over his head, but he brought the ball down with a sublime touch. The touch was so good, that Drogba could cross the ball first time and Kalou had got in front of his man to head home from 6 yards. 1-0 Chelsea.

The second came from another Drogba first touch, this time playing the ball into Lampard who shot from 25 yards and the keeper could only parry the ball to his left. Kalou was on it like a flash a prodded the ball home before the keeper could react and re-claim the ball in time. Stoke fans I will say on first impressions it looked like a foul on the keeper as Kalou slid in two-footed, but the reply behind the goal shows it wasn't.

Stoke's keeper was injured in the challene and looked like he will miss the World Cup which is a blow to him. The goal stood. 2-0 Chelsea.

Chelsea wrapped up the first half when Kalou turned Chelsea old boy Huth and was pulled back (which did look like it started outside the box)and went down inside the box. Referee had no hesitation and gave the pen which Lampard struck home to make it 3-0 Chelsea at half time and game over.

Second half Chelsea continued with their dominant passing game and created more and more chances to score. I will never know how Malouda missed a chance from what seemed like 2 yards and he won't either.

We made it 4-0 when Kalou got the ball down out right with a free run on goal and had his first shot blocked but scored with the rebound. Kalou hat-trick and its 4-0 Chelsea. With that Kalou came off and Joe Cole came on. Sam Hutchinson also comes on Ferriera.

Chelsea made it five when Hutchinson broke down the Chelsea right and floated in the perfect cross for Frank Lampard to finish with a deft touch into the corner of the net. 5-0 Chelsea. Great cross and great finish!

Sturridge comes on for Anelka and we made it six when Drogba beat a challenge from his marker under pressure with the ball at his feet, turns and plays a ball into the stride of Sturridge who's pace takes him away from the defender and round the keeper and slots the ball into the empty net. 6-0 Chelsea.

Finally Chelsea made it seven as Ballack plays a high ball out wide to Joe Cole who in turn volleys the ball across goal and Malouda taps home to make the final score Chelsea 7-0 Stoke and its exactly what the performance deserved. Stoke were poor and of that there is no question but Chelsea were simply awesome.

Thats three times this season that Chelsea have scored 7 in the Premier League and twice in recent weeks. I know there was a blip at Spurs but this performance underlines the togetherness the squad have and the determination to get this title back.

For today, we sit back on top of the Premier League and its nice to know that heads dropped in the red half of Manchester once more just like the other weekend.
CAREFREE & KTBFFH!