Blues bounce back and take pole position
CHELSEA claimed top spot in the Premier League as Frank Lampard’s side fought back to defeat Leeds.
The hosts had fallen behind to an early Patrick Bamford strike but recovered to take the three points with goals by Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and Christian Pulisic.
The Blues sit a point ahead of Tottenham and champions Liverpool, with Jose Mourinho’s side hosting Arsenal in a North London derby today. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, meanwhile, face Wolves this evening at Anfield.
Former Chelsea striker Bamford had handed the visitors an early lead, sneaking into a gap before rounding Edouard Mendy.
The Blues keeper was left with too much to do as Kurt Zouma could not race back to cover the space, leaving Bamford to ghost in and slot into the net.
Giroud found the net to drag Chelsea level on 27 minutes. The France hitman turned in Reece James’ low cross, after Hakim Ziyech had sent the right-back down the line with a neat piece of play.
Six minutes into the second period, a Chelsea move involving Thiago Silva, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell ended with Pulisic’s shot being deflected into goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s hands.
Leeds hit back with Mateusz
Klich and Jack Harrison combining well on the left to win a corner off N’Golo Kante. When the ball was swung over, Raphinha forced a save from Mendy before firing the rebound just over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Chelsea took the lead, French defender Zouma working himself free to nod home Mount’s corner.
And American international Pulisic wrapped up the points in stoppage time, tapping in Timo Werner’s pass from close range.
Lampard was happy but refused to get carried away. He said ‘At the moment, the spirit is good, the players are playing well.
‘But again we have to keep our feet on the ground and say that there’s a long, long way to go because the reason Liverpool and Manchester City have done so well over the last two or three years is because they do it throughout the whole season.
‘At the minute, we’re in a patch.’ BURNLEY drew 1-1 with Everton in the lunchtime kick-off at Turf Moor. Robbie Brady gave the hosts a third-minute lead but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in first-half injury time.