Willian at the double as Chelsea beat Stoke 4-2
Chelsea were made to fight for a record-equalling 13th successive Premier League victory as they battled to a 4-2 win against Stoke at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal were previously the only side to reach a tally of 13 consecutive victories in a single season when they won the title at a canter in 2001/02. Chelsea will now look to go one better than the Gunners when they travel to their north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday evening.
The Blues didn’t have it all their own way against Stoke, who mirrored the hosts’ 3-4-2-1 formation to good effect. Mark Hughes’ side controlled possession for the opening quarter of the match and typically posed a threat at set-pieces through the towering presence of Peter Crouch and Ryan Shawcross.
It was a corner to Chelsea, though, that brought the opening goal. Cesc Fabregas whipped an in-swinging cross over from the left and Gary Cahill climbed above Shawcross to fire a powerful header past Lee Grant just after the half-hour mark. Fabregas’ expert delivery highlighted another impressive performance from the Spaniard, who kept his place ahead of Nemanja Matic following N’Golo Kante’s return from suspension.
Stoke were a thorn in Chelsea’s side all afternoon, however, and a minute after half time they were rewarded for their persistence. Charlie Adam hooked a free-kick into the box from the halfway line and Crouch’s knock-down was side-footed into the bottom corner by Bruno Martins Indi for the Dutchman’s first Premier League goal.
The equaliser snapped Chelsea back into life. Willian went close from the edge of the area and soon put the hosts back in the lead. Victor Moses’ smart centre was touched into the Brazilian’s path by Eden Hazard, and he steered the ball home from close range to expectant cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd.
It seemed as though Chelsea would assert their authority from here, with Antonio Conte calmly ordering his team to tighten up from the touchline. But only seven minutes later, Stoke were level again. Some calamitous defending from the hosts allowed Mame Biram Diouf to drive the ball across from the right with Crouch waiting in the centre to tap home. It was the 35-year-old’s first goal in the Premier League since Stoke’s 6-1 win over Liverpool on the final day of the 2014/15 campaign.
It would have been the perfect time to end a 19-month goal drought were it not for Willian restoring Chelsea’s lead a minute later. Fabregas was the provider again - claiming his third assist in his last two appearances - as he played in Willian who fired emphatically into the top corner.
That strike dealt a severe blow to Stoke’s confidence with the visitors struggling to threaten Thibaut Courtois’ goal in the remaining 25 minutes. Chelsea, now firmly in control, went close again through Willian, chasing his hat-trick, before Diego Costa sealed the victory following a mistake by Adam.
The result opens up a nine-point gap at the top of the table before Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City at 5.30pm, and rounds off a mixed 2016 for Chelsea.
A year that started in disarray after the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, leading to the deposed champions finishing in 10th place in May, has been turned on its head by the arrival of Antonio Conte. The Italian has guided Chelsea to a commanding position at the top of the table, and on this evidence, few would bet on them relinquishing their lead in the second half of the season.