Chelsea extended their lead at top of Premier League after they beat Leicester City. N’Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger and Christian Pulisic scored in the first-half.
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With a dominant win over Leicester City, Chelsea increased their lead in the Premier League to six.
The Blues had the chance to stake their claim and sit back while their rivals tried to close the gap.
Thomas Tuchel’s side won four of their five previous international breaks. They don’t seem like they have lost a step during the break.
Leicester beat Leicester 1-0 at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Chelsea seem to be growing stronger six months later, with Antonio Rudiger scoring in the first-half and N’Golo Kante scoring in the second.
Rudiger made his way home from the corner, but his team-mate was in a position to travel. Rudiger eventually passed Kasper Schmeichel.
As you would expect, the Foxes produced a significantly better showing in the second half, but they were unable to break the Blues defense.
Christian Pulisic, who returned to Leicester after a long absence, was able instead to put salt in Leicester’s wounds.
Here are five things to take away from the comfortable title win.
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1 Home un-comforts
For Leicester, the King Power is not a pleasant hunting ground. Already, the Foxes have already lost more than they have won on their own turf this season – three to 2.
Following the successes of Arsenal and Manchester City in their respective campaigns, Chelsea was third to win.
This is not a new phenomenon. Last term, the Foxes preferred to play on the road. They lost only three games while they were beaten nine times at King Power.
These woes won’t be helpful for their ambitions, as teams at the top of the table are often known for being difficult to beat at home.
Already there appears to be a danger of a mental breakdown, as Leicester’s questionable origins have been a major talking point leading up to the Chelsea loss.
Watford and Newcastle will be their next opponents at King Power. A defeat against these two sides could seriously raise alarm bells regarding their home results.
2 No Rom, no problem
Romelu Lukaku, who was signed for a club record fee in the summer, was quickly hailed as the last piece of the puzzle.
His debut goal was a highlight of that. However, his efforts have slowed down and he now has four goals. He’s currently injured but Chelsea has not been in trouble.
While they may be a better team without the Belgian present at the game, the Blues are still able to score when he is not there.
Rudiger and Kante both scored their second goals at Leicester. They could have been more ahead at half-time.
Tuchel has seen 15 different players score in Chelsea’s league this season. This includes several of his defenders.
While title hopefuls may have a talented marksman to depend on, it doesn’t mean that not having a 25 goal scorer is a problem. Manchester City continues to prove this.
3 All eyes on Rodgers
This week, questions were asked of the Northern Irishman about the possibility of him taking over at Manchester United.
Rodgers, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is fired, is believed to be a top candidate for Old Trafford.
However, everyone seems to be watching his every move and questions are immediately asked when his team is unable to solve their problems.
This speculation is not the right thing for him or the club, regardless of their poor home record and conceding from corners.
It is important to note that although Leicester has mixed it with Rodgers the past two seasons, this Foxes team works with far fewer resources then their counterparts.
While a defeat at home to Chelsea over the decades is nothing to be ashamed of it seems that Rodgers has made a connection with pastures new.
4 CHO on a quest
It is a sign of a great player to turn down international opportunities in order to focus on his club form. But that is exactly what Callum Hudson Odoi did.
The 21-year old is not lacking in competition at Stamford Bridge. He felt that going with the England U21s was not his best interest, which led to a split opinion.
However, Chelsea minutes are not guaranteed due to their squad depth. Hudson-Odoi seems to have found a place in Chelsea’s front trio and his performances suggest that his immense potential could soon be unleashed.
Tuchel recently stated: “He is clearly on the right way – you can see it in the matches and how effective he is. I feel he is very focused. He waited a long time for these chances and now they arrived.”
5 Rudiger’s Leicester loving
Only eight league goals have he scored for Chelsea, and three of those were against Leicester at King Power. The German clearly craves it.
The Blues were on their way when the centre-half rose to their highest point and headed home.
This season, Leicester City has conceded eight set-piece goals more than any Premier League side. Rudiger was happy to help.
The performances of the defender are happening amid an uncertain future as his contract ends.
Rudiger is asking for a raise and it seems that he deserves it.
