Chelsea did not miss injured strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner as the Premier League leaders run riot against 10-man Norwich City in a 7-0 victory, with Mason Mount scoring a hat-trick.
Norwich, a side starting the day bottom of the league has not beaten the team at the top since February 2011, and never looked likely to halt that run at Stamford Bridge as Thomas Tuchel’s side cruised to their biggest win of the season with ease.
Chelsea midfielders Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi got things running with their first league goals of the campaign, with Ben Chilwell scoring for a fourth successive top-flight match after fellow wing-back Reece James got in on the act.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount celebrates after scoring the opener against Norwich City on Saturday 23, October in a Premier League tie. | PHOTO: Chelsea FC Twitter |
Max Aarons’ own goal and Ben Gibson’s red card made life even more miserable for Norwich, with Mount doubling his tally from the spot before rounding off his first-ever Chelsea hat-trick in stoppage time.
It took Chelsea just eight minutes to take the lead, as Mount allowed Jorginho’s lay-off to run across him before planting a firm strike into the bottom-left corner.
Mateo Kovacic’s weighted through ball teed up Hudson-Odoi for a cool finish across Tim Krul 10 minutes later, with Mount turning provider for Chelsea’s third, sliding a perfect ball through to James, who chipped in with aplomb.
After making an error that allowed Milot Rashica to test Edouard Mendy, Chilwell quickly atoned at the other end, drilling in a low finish to continue his brilliant scoring form.
Aarons’ deflection on Hudson-Odoi’s cross-shot did for Krul, who spilled over his own line, before Gibson – only 10 minutes after he had first been cautioned – dived in late on James.
Mathias Normann’s handball handed Chelsea a spot-kick and, though Krul initially saved Mount’s effort, the goalkeeper had come off his line, and was unable to keep out the second attempt.
There was time for one more, Ruben Loftus-Cheek beating the offside trap and cutting back for Mount to slot in his third.
Mason Mount scored a hat-trick for Chelsea to ta[ke home the match ball as Chelsea defeated Norwich 7-0 in a Premier League meeting on Saturday 23, October. | PHOTO: Premier League official site |
This was the 18th time the Blues have scored six or more in a Premier League game, more than any other team, as they moved four points clear at the top.
Though it is early in the season, it would be a surprise if Norwich are not in the bottom three come the end of the season. Indeed, excluding matchday one games, they have spent the last 39 weeks in the relegation zone (only Swindon Town have endured a longer run – 40, in 1993-94.
After this match, Chelsea has had 14 different goalscorers in their opening nine Premier League games this season – the earliest in a campaign a team has ever had as many players to score for them in the competition.
Mount is the 20th different player to score a Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea, with only Arsenal (21) having more different hat-trick scorers in the competition.
Daniel Farke’s side had managed to tighten things up at the back in recent weeks, keeping clean sheets in successive draws, but they were carved open time and time again at Stamford Bridge, and matters were made worse when Gibson, seemingly forgetting he had already been booked, lunged in on Reece James. Both of the tackles the defender attempted resulted in bookings.
Chelsea will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Southampton for an EFL Carabao cup tie. Norwich are next in action against Leeds United in the league.
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