Burnley 0-4 Chelsea: Blues up to second with routine win

Burnley 0-4 Chelsea: Alvaro Morata, Ross Barkley, Willian and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all score as Maurizio Sarri’s men climb into second place in the Premier League with routine win at Turf Moor

  • Chelsea climbed into second place in the Premier League with a convincing 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor
  • Alvaro Morata scored a much-needed goal to put the Blues ahead in the 22nd minute with a composed finish 
  • The Spanish striker latched on to a through-ball from Ross Barkley before calmly slotting past Joe Hart
  • Ross Barkley doubled Chelsea’s lead with a thumping effort from 25 yards that flew into the back of the net
  • Willian inflicted further misery on the Clarets when he cut inside and hit a low finish into the bottom corner
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek wrapped things up for the visitors when he struck a fourth goal deep into added time 

They started the game singing the name of Frank Lampard, come the end it was that of Ross Barkley rolling down from the Chelsea away following.

It is more than five years since an Englishman scored in three consecutive Premier League matches for the Blues. That, of course, was Lampard.

But their latest No.8 is fast emerging as the team’s number one, especially in the absence of Eden Hazard, missing for the first time in the league since December because of a back complaint. Given the accusation that Chelsea would amount to little without the Belgian, here was a most convincing riposte. 

Chelsea climbed into second place in the Premier League table with a convincing 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor

Chelsea climbed into second place in the Premier League table with a convincing 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor

Morata scored a much-needed goal in his Chelsea career to give the Blues the lead in the 22nd minute at Turf Moor

Morata scored a much-needed goal in his Chelsea career to give the Blues the lead in the 22nd minute at Turf Moor

The Spanish striker latched on to an excellent through ball from Ross Barkley before calmly slotting past Joe Hart

The Spanish striker latched on to an excellent through ball from Ross Barkley before calmly slotting past Joe Hart

Barkley continued his recent impressive form by doubling Chelsea's lead with a stunning effort from distance

Barkley continued his recent impressive form by doubling Chelsea’s lead with a stunning effort from distance

The former Everton man latched onto a pass before driving forward and unleashing a rasping strike into the bottom corner

The former Everton man latched onto a pass before driving forward and unleashing a rasping strike into the bottom corner

Willian wrapped things up for Maurizio Sarri's men when he cut in from the left and finished well into the far corner

Willian wrapped things up for Maurizio Sarri’s men when he cut in from the left and finished well into the far corner

Chelsea are now up to second in the Premier League table and remain in touching distance with league leaders Liverpool

Chelsea are now up to second in the Premier League table and remain in touching distance with league leaders Liverpool

Substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek wrapped things up for the visitors when he struck a fourth goal deep into added time

Substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek wrapped things up for the visitors when he struck a fourth goal deep into added time

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Burnley: Hart, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Cork (Westwood 73), Defour, Brady, Hendrick (Barnes 65), Vokes (Wood 59).

Subs not used: Heaton, Bardsley, Vydra, Long.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Tarkowski, Hendrick, Brady, Gudmundsson.

Manager: Sean Dyche.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho (Fabregas 78), Barkley, Pedro (Loftus-Cheek 30), Morata (Giroud 74), Willian.

Subs not used: Caballero, Kovacic, Zappacosta, Cahill.

Goals: Morata 22, Barkley 57, Willian 62, Loftus-Cheek 90+2.

Bookings: Morata, Willian.

Manager: Maurizio Sarri.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

Attendance: 21,430.

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Alvaro Morata opened the scoring when he latched on to a through ball from Ross Barkley before calmly slotting past Joe Hart. Click HERE for more from our MATCH ZONE.

Alvaro Morata opened the scoring when he latched on to a through ball from Ross Barkley before calmly slotting past Joe Hart. Click HERE for more from our MATCH ZONE.

Led by Barkley and aided by fellow scorers Alvaro Morata, Willian and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – and N’Golo Kante, always Kante – Maurizio Sarri’s side eased to within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Sarri is now the only Chelsea boss to go unbeaten in their first 10 Premier League matches and you would bet on him extending that run to November’s international break with Crystal Palace and Everton next up at Stamford Bridge.

On the evidence of this, they could afford to exercise caution with Hazard’s fitness.  

Managerial duo Maurizio Sarri and Sean Dyche shake hands as the teams make their way out onto the pitch before kick-off

Managerial duo Maurizio Sarri and Sean Dyche shake hands as the teams make their way out onto the pitch before kick-off

Both teams take part in a moment of silence for events surrounding the helicopter crash at Leicester on Saturday night

Both teams take part in a moment of silence for events surrounding the helicopter crash at Leicester on Saturday night

Barkley vies with Burnley's Belgian midfielder Steven Defour in an aerial duel during the opening exchanges of the contest

Barkley vies with Burnley’s Belgian midfielder Steven Defour in an aerial duel during the opening exchanges of the contest

Kepa Arrizabalaga stretches to get his fingertips onto the ball as Marco Alonso watches his fellow Spaniard in action

Kepa Arrizabalaga stretches to get his fingertips onto the ball as Marco Alonso watches his fellow Spaniard in action

Alonso challenges Burnley's Johann Gudmundsson for the ball but the Icelandic midfielder managed to get the better of him

Alonso challenges Burnley’s Johann Gudmundsson for the ball but the Icelandic midfielder managed to get the better of him

Chelsea were dominant from the off and Morata’s first sight at goal came as he connected with a scuffed Barkley shot, his opportunistic headed flick clawed over the crossbar by Joe Hart.

The visitors were simply slicker in everything they did during the first half, no player more so than Willian. He drew a strong save from Hart on 17 minutes before beating the goalkeeper with a measured curler moments later only to be denied by the post.

Morata had laid on the latter with some fine hold-up play and cute through-ball, so he was deserving of similar service for the opener on 22 minutes. 

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta gestures as he remonstrates with referee Craig Pawson about a decision

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta gestures as he remonstrates with referee Craig Pawson about a decision

Pedro looked visibly upset as the former Barcelona winger was forced off the pitch after just 30 minutes due to an injury

Pedro looked visibly upset as the former Barcelona winger was forced off the pitch after just 30 minutes due to an injury

Matthew Lowton and Ben Mee complain after Willian went down inside the box and was shown a yellow card for diving

Matthew Lowton and Ben Mee complain after Willian went down inside the box and was shown a yellow card for diving

Chelsea finally managed to make a break through when Morata showed composure and confidence to finish well

Chelsea finally managed to make a break through when Morata showed composure and confidence to finish well

Burnley defenders attempted to get back into position but Morata got away and fired the ball into the back of the net

Burnley defenders attempted to get back into position but Morata got away and fired the ball into the back of the net

It was Morata's fourth goal in 13 appearances this season as he continues to battle Olivier Giroud for a starting berth

It was Morata’s fourth goal in 13 appearances this season as he continues to battle Olivier Giroud for a starting berth

Barkley was the provider and the goal owed everything to the assist. Receiving possession 20 yards out, he used his left boot to cushion and his right to stab through the heart of the Burnley backline.

Morata did the rest, slotting past Hart with an effortlessness hardly in keeping with his recent form.

Come half-time the Spaniard could – and perhaps should – have had a hat-trick. He outsmarted Ben Mee with a razor-sharp turn inside the area but his finish was blunt in comparison as he poked wide. 

Tempers flared on the touchline in the early stages of the second half as Dyche gestures at his Italian opponent

Tempers flared on the touchline in the early stages of the second half as Dyche gestures at his Italian opponent

Jorginho of Chelsea is challenged for possession by Jack Cork in the centre of the pitch just after the restart

Jorginho of Chelsea is challenged for possession by Jack Cork in the centre of the pitch just after the restart

Barkley became the first Englishman to score in three consecutive Premier League games for Chelsea since Frank Lampard

Barkley became the first Englishman to score in three consecutive Premier League games for Chelsea since Frank Lampard

He clenched his fist in celebration in front of the travelling supporters as Chelsea continued their good start to the season

He clenched his fist in celebration in front of the travelling supporters as Chelsea continued their good start to the season

Morata then beat the offside trap only to hammer straight at Hart and his half was complete when receiving a yellow card following a scuffle with James Tarkowski. You certainly could not accuse him of hiding this week.

In truth, Chelsea’s slender lead never looked delicate – Burnley did not have a shot on target in the opening 45 – but their two best players on the day made sure of the result anyway. 

Barkley’s goal arrived first on 57 minutes with a left-footed drill into the bottom corner from 25 yards before the brilliant Willian cut infield from the left and located the same patch of net six minutes later. Game over.

Loftus-Cheek was unfortunate not to start after his Europa League hat-trick against Bate Borisov on Thursday but the midfielder added a fourth with a close-range finish in stoppage-time.

The star, though, had been Barkley, and the Chelsea supporters let him know it. 

Cork goes down in the box under a combined challenged from Jorginho and Barkley but the referee waved play on

Cork goes down in the box under a combined challenged from Jorginho and Barkley but the referee waved play on

The three points were secured when Brazilian star Willian moved the ball onto his right foot and finished well beyond Hart

The three points were secured when Brazilian star Willian moved the ball onto his right foot and finished well beyond Hart

Willian celebrates after scoring his team's third goal as they added three more points to their impressive tally so far

Willian celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal as they added three more points to their impressive tally so far

Dyche cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as he saw his team fall to another heavy defeat against one of the 'Big Six' clubs

Dyche cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as he saw his team fall to another heavy defeat against one of the ‘Big Six’ clubs

The English  midfielder wrapped things up for the visitors when he fired a loose ball home after a corner kick late on

The English  midfielder wrapped things up for the visitors when he fired a loose ball home after a corner kick late on

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