Chelsea secured a second consecutive Premier League victory for just the second time in 2023 as they romped to a 4-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Wilson Odobert put Burnley ahead early on but Chelsea dragged themselves level with an own goal from Ameen Al Dakhil shortly before half-time, and the Blues ran away with proceedings after the break.
The inspired Raheem Sterling won a penalty which was finished off by Cole Palmer, before the winger added a goal of his own, and Nicolas Jackson popped up with a fourth to cap off a memorable victory for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
How the game unfolded
The first sight of goal came eight minutes in as Palmer spun his defender on the edge of the box, but the summer signing's effort from range flew high and wide.
Burnley were lively on the counter but lacked composure in the final third, passing directly out of play or running out of steam and conceding possession far too easily, although the signs of Burnley's threat were clear early on.
After watching Sterling curl wide, Burnley put the pieces together and fired themselves ahead as Odobert's low effort trickled into Robert Sanchez's bottom corner.
It could have easily been 2-0 soon after Odobert's cross caught Levi Colwill sleeping at the back post, but the onrushing Mike Tresor couldn't steer an effort on target.
Chelsea's response was slow and predictable. The Blues spent most of the first half passing around the back, with Burnley happy to deal with the long balls and crosses that inevitably followed.
Shortly before half-time, Sterling helped produce an equaliser. His fizzed cross struck the hip of Al Dakhil, whose deflection soared over James Trafford and into the back of the Burnley net.
Chelsea brought a little more energy in the second half and were awarded a penalty just three minutes in when Sterling was scythed down by Vitinho, and up stepped Palmer to slot home from 12 yards.
Enzo Fernandez sent a tame effort straight at Trafford, but Sterling was far more convincing in front of goal as he fizzed a strike beyond Trafford to hand Chelsea an imposing lead shortly after the hour mark.
It was four ten minutes later as substitute Jackson slotted home from inside the box, marking the first time Chelsea have scored four goals in a single game since April 2022.
Burnley player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: James Trafford - 5/10 - Helpless for the goals but otherwise decent, although didn't always inspire confidence with the ball at his feet.
RB: Vitinho - 4/10 - A noticeable weak link at the back. Vitinho gave too much space to Sterling and never looked comfortable. Burned for the penalty.
CB: Ameen Al Dakhil - 5/10 - Largely did well but was caught in the wrong position for Chelsea's equaliser.
CB: Hannes Delcroix - 5/10 - Did a solid job but began to struggle when Chelsea found their feet.
LB: Charlie Taylor - 6/10 - Had a comfortable game on a side down which Chelsea rarely attacked.
DM: Josh Cullen - 7/10 - Seemed to get in front of everything Chelsea threw at him. Outstanding energy and work rate to try and keep them at bay.
CM: Sander Berge - 4/10 - Didn't cover himself in glory for the equaliser and offered very little going forward.
CM: Josh Brownhill - 5/10 - Flew into challenges to try and shake Chelsea up. Didn't exactly have the desired impact.
RW: Mike Tresor - 5/10 - Put himself about well and had a few nice moments. Should have scored shortly after the opener.
ST: Lyle Foster - 6/10 - His movement caused real problems for Disasi and Silva. Popped up with the assist for Odobert's opener but faded after the break.
LW: Wilson Odobert - 6/10 - Now Burnley's youngest Premier League scorer. Odobert was a major threat for Chelsea and could have easily added another goal contribution in a lively first half.
Substitutes
SUB: Dara O'Shea (46' for Al Dakhil) - 5/10
SUB: Connor Roberts (61' for Vitinho) - 5/10
SUB: Luca Koleosho (61' for Tresor) - 5/10
SUB: Aaron Ramsey (61' for Cullen) - 5/10
SUB: Jacob Bruun Larsen (79' for Odobert) - N/A
Subs not used: Arijanet Muric (GK), Jack Cork, Zeki Amdouni, Jay Rodriguez
Manager
Vincent Kompany - 5/10 - Set Burnley up well to punish Chelsea on the counter but ran out of steam once the Blues got going. His determination to play out from the back proved costly.
Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sanchez - 5/10 - Odobert's strike didn't seem particularly powerful but still managed to find a way beyond him.
RB: Marc Cucurella - 5/10 - Poor positioning for the opening goal. Tried to get himself sent off by swiping at Odobert. Thankfully didn't make contact but was shown the yellow card the intent deserved.
CB: Axel Disasi - 5/10 - One excellent pass from the back but one poor moment of one-on-one defending for the opening goal. Overall a bit of a slow day.
CB: Thiago Silva - 5/10 - With limited pace, Silva cannot afford to be getting caught out of position these days. He left his teammates on an island for Odobert's goal.
LB: Levi Colwill - 6/10 - His work rate was outstanding, even if his end product left a little to be desired.
DM: Moises Caicedo - 8/10 - Chelsea's best midfielder. Quietly efficient, recovering possession and feeding his creative teammates. A real destructive force.
DM: Enzo Fernandez - 6/10 - Tried to make things happen from time to time but was guilty of being a little too slow in possession.
RM: Cole Palmer - 7/10 - It wasn't Palmer's best game but he still ended with a goal and an assist. Seemed to find himself in the right places.
AM: Conor Gallagher - 6/10 - Put himself about as usual but didn't offer much with the ball before setting up Sterling for the third.
LM: Raheem Sterling - 9/10 - A real spark for Chelsea. Deserved the luck that came with the own goal before flashing his quality to win the penalty and firing home a goal of his own. Dragged his side through this one.
ST: Armando Broja - 4/10 - Did his best to get involved but simply couldn't find a way into the game before being hooked at the interval.
Substitutes
SUB: Nicolas Jackson (46' for Broja) - 7/10
SUB: Mykhailo Mudryk (83' for Sterling) - N/A
SUB: Ian Maatsen (86' for Palmer) - N/A
Subs not used: Djordje Petrovic (GK), Alfie Gilchrist, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Noni Madueke, Alex Matos
Manager
Mauricio Pochettino - 6/10 - Took some criticism for his decision to start Sterling but he was laughing by the final whistle. Not a particularly impressive performance from Chelsea but it was that lineup call which decided this game.
Player of the match: Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
This article was originally published on 90min as Burnley 1-4 Chelsea: Player ratings as Sterling inspires rampant victory.
