Chelsea Fc extended their lead at the top to 4 points after an emphatic victory over Norwich City on Saturday afternoon, 23rd October, 2021.
Here are 5 lessons from the game.
1. Mason Mount is still Chelsea’s key man
Mount returned to the Blues line-up in midweek since the game against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 22-year-old England international had endured a slow start to the campaign after a long Champions League winning season.
England’s run to the Euro final meant that he would make a late return to the Blues side.
The midfielder hasn’t been at his best so far but after just two games on the bounce, he is showing us the important player he was for the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Chelsea had missed a player that would connect the two holding midfielders with the attack. That was a role Mount has excelled in under Tuchel. Lukaku has been isolated in recent games due to that gap in the middle – a player to pick his runs.
Today Mount was superb and did everything right. His assist would have been a good return for his display but a hattrick makes it even more interesting – His first goals since the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid.
If he can stay fit, he will prove to be pivotal to Chelsea’s title charge again this season.
2. Injury Crisis could Favour Tuchel
Chelsea played without a natural striker today after injuries to Werner and Lukaku.
While the scoreline suggests that the Blues could cope without the strikers, it was the nature of the win that further emphasized that.
With Havertz, Hudson-Odoi and Mount in attack, Norwich found it difficult to cope with their runs due to how god these players are with the ball.
The next few games could offer Tuchel an opportunity to see other options outside playing an out-and-out striker.
3. Norwich have to score
Norwich City had nothing to lose in this game and it is surprising they didn’t commit too much to try and break Chelsea.
The Chelsea defence was assured as ever and to be fair, they make it difficult to find a way through.
Nevertheless, Norwich will have score goals if they are to survive in the top flight this time around – after being relegated twice on the last two occasions they won promotion.
4. Chelsea can use the fear-factor to edge the title
The scoreline will send a message to the rest of the big guns on Chelsea’s title credentials.
We can argue that Norwich are not the strongest side in the league.
However, it is important to win big in these games.
It asserts a team as a top dog and Chelsea can capitalize on that.
5. Chelsea’s strong start
Tuchel set up his team to try to score from the get-go. The intensity with which the team made it difficult for Norwich to have a breather.
Such approach to games could be crucial in a long campaign.
Finishing the game early and withdrawing some of your best players is essential in keeping the team fit across many competitions.
Final Thoughts
The Blues can revel in this win with the expectation of having Lukaku and Werner back on the side.
Nonetheless, the goals are starting to flood in with several options of scoring. Chilwell now has scored three times in his last three EPL games. This is testament to the fact that anyone can score for the Blues.
Norwich would have to wait for their first win of the campaign. The squad needs a bit of a tactical overhaul and a dose of motivation to start getting results.
It is a long campaign but Chelsea are cruising at the moment.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MASON MOUNT
Can you score a hat-trick and not be awarded man of the match? Maybe, but not today. Mount takes home the match ball and the man of the match award with it. The midfielder may have netted three goals but his all-round play was excellent, both offensively and defensively. He was clinical, creative but disciplined and tenacious in his defensive duties too. This man has got a bright future ahead of him and showed why his previous and current manager rate him so highly.
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Mendy 8, Chalobah 7, Silva 7, Rudiger 7, James 8, Jorginho 7, Kovacic 8, Chilwell 8, Mount 9, Havertz 7, Hudson-Odoi 8.
Subs: Loftus-Cheek 7, Barkley 6, Ziyech 6,
Norwich: Krul 7, Aarons 5, Kabak 5, Hanley 5, Gibson 4, Giannoulis 5, Lees-Melou 6, Normann 5, McLean 5, Sargent 5, Pukki 5.
KEY MOMENTS
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Norwich (8 mins) The Blues have taken the lead courtesy of Mason Mount! Hudson Odoi's cross is cleared only as far as Jorginho. He sets the ball for Mount who drives a low, fizzing shot beyond Krul and into the bottom left corner of the net. First blood to the Blues after eight minutes.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Norwich (18 mins) It's two for Chelsea and it's Hudson-Odoi who gets it! A lovely ball from Kovacic plays in Hudson-Odoi down the left. He drives into the box, opens his body and calmly slots the ball past Krul and into the opposite corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Norwich (42 mins) The Blues have netted a third goal and it's another academy product, Reece James, with a quality finish! Mount slides a ball in behind the left-full back Giannoulis for James, who brushes off his marker and chips the ball delightfully over Krul and into the net.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 Norwich (57 mins) It's a fourth for the Blues and it's Chilwell who gets it! Chelsea work the ball from right to left as Kovacic turns provider again by laying the ball into the path of Chilwell, who drills the ball expertly into the far corner from the left side of the box. He cannot stop scoring!
GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 Norwich (62 mins) The Blues are running riot here and it's Hudson-Odoi with his second goal of the afternoon! It looks like a cross from the left which takes a deflection off Aarons, deceiving Krul and rolling over the goal-line. This may have gone down as an own-goal, you know.
GOAL! Chelsea 6-0 Norwich (85 mins) Chelsea are awarded a penalty after a VAR check rules Normann to have handled Rudiger's effort. Mount sees his penalty saved by Krul, who stepped off his line too early and a re-take is ordered. Mount scores at the second time of asking!
GOAL! Chelsea 7-0 Norwich. (90+1 mins) Wow, a seventh goal for Chelsea and it's a hat-trick for Mount! It's the Blues academy who combine again as Loftus-Cheek squares the ball to Mount who slots home from the centre of the goal. VAR have a look for an offside in the build-up however, the goal stands!
KEY STATS
- Chelsea are the first team to have four different English players score for them in a Premier League game since Bournemouth against Hull in October 2016 (excluding own goals) - Opta
- Ben Chilwell is the first English player to score in four consecutive Premier League games for Chelsea since a certain Frank Lampard in February 2013 - Opta
- This game was the 18th time that Chelsea have scored 6+ goals in a Premier League match. This is more than any other side in the history of the competition - Opta
- Mason Mount is the 20th different player to score a Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea, only Arsenal have more (21) - Opta
Credit: Uz Ukabuilu
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