Burnley 2-4 Chelsea
Amidst the well-publicised transfer ban imposed on Premier League high-flyers Chelsea, and the departure of star player Eden Hazard, it was easy to forget that the west Londoners did actually manage to make one signing this summer.
Fortunately for them, the recruitment of American Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund was agreed and sealed long before the embargo came into effect. So far there’s only been glimpses of his talent for his new fans to see, bursts of cameos from the 21 year-old winger.
Yet manager Frank Lampard has purposely eased him into the action, giving him the odd opportunity to make his mark and on a cold Saturday evening in east Lancashire – not the most obvious venue – he well and truly announced his welcome to English football.
A ‘perfect’ hat-trick with a left foot, right foot and headed effort marked a night he will never forget and one that most connected with the Clarets will quickly want to forget.
Highlights of the game
After passing their latest test at Ajax in midweek, this was a very different challenge and, arguably, one in which this SBOBET observer expected Chelsea’s young team may slip up.
Burnley were able to welcome back Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes, following respective shoulder and groin injuries, but were without in-form striker Chris Wood due to a tight hamstring.
For Chelsea, midfielder N’Golo Kante remained out alongside Ross Barkley, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.
There were plenty of Premier League highlights in the opening half – only problem for the hosts was while they failed to take their opportunities, Pulisic was clinical.
Barnes missed three good chances, while Kepa Arrizabalaga kept out Erik Pieters’ deflected strike.
At the other end, Pulisic broke the deadlock with a solo opener, winning the ball on the halfway line before running all the way and slotting home.
Then, in the final minute of the first half, he added a second on the break after Willian won possession.
And so, an even first half ended with Chelsea firmly in the ascendancy.
Any chance of this being an occasion to savour for Burnley in their 200th Premier League fixture, and 100th at Turf Moor, soon evaporated completely.
Pulisic completed his hat-trick, heading in Mason Mount’s cross, before the Brazilian Willian blasted home the fourth.
Two goals in the final four minutes, a long-range Jay Rodriguez strike and a deflected shot from Dwight McNeil, were too little too late as Chelsea set a new club top-flight record of winning four consecutive away matches while scoring three or more goals.
It also meant they had won four successive league fixtures for the first time in more than a year.
The Premier League betting odds are suddenly favouring them to do better than many fared – their opening day defeat seems a long time ago now.
Key statistics
Chelsea have scored 16 goals in their five away league games this season – only Norwich (17 in 1993-94) and Manchester City (20 in 2011-12) have scored more in their first five on the road in a Premier League season.
Only Watford (34) have conceded more Premier League away goals in 2019 than Chelsea (30), the most they have conceded in a calendar year since 1997.
Pulisic is the first Chelsea player to score a ‘perfect’ Premier League hat-trick since Didier Drogba against Wigan in May 2010.
He is also the first American to score for Chelsea in the top flight, meaning the Blues have now had players from 36 different nations score for them in the EPL (excluding own goals).
Burnley’s solitary victory in their 11 Premier League meetings with Chelsea was 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the 2017/18 season.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their six Premier League trips to Turf Moor, scoring at least twice in each of their four victories.
Burnley’s last home win against the Blues came in 1983 in the Second Division.
Burnley’s nine points from five matches at Turf Moor are already two points more than they managed in their opening nine fixtures at home last season.
They have only won one of their 26 Premier League encounters with established top-six clubs (drawn six, lost 19), a 2-1 victory against Tottenham at Turf Moor in February.
The Clarets are without a clean sheet in their last 35 games against those top-six sides, conceding 79 goals.
Chelsea have won seven successive games in all competitions, the best winning run of Lampard’s managerial career.
What’s next?
It’s League Cup action next for Chelsea. They host Manchester United on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (October 30) before visiting Watford in the league three days later.
Burnley are at newly-promoted Sheffield United a week today.
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