Who needs Diego Costa?
Alonso double puts absent striker in the shade
THERE was no sign of panic – on or off the pitch – as Chelsea brushed aside Diego Costa’s absence to deliver an away-day masterclass.
Costa’s head had been turned by a mega-bucks offer from China, and he was left behind in London.
Despite this unwanted distraction, Antonio Conte’s men showed no signs of taking their eyes off the job.
They showed their intent to replace Leicester as Champions of England as three goals and three points gives them a seven-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table.
But the club insist that owner Roman Abramovich is not worried about the situation and expects it to blow over. Inside the dressing room, Chelsea’s senior players are trying to convince Costa to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Costa’s place in the starting line- up was taken by Willian, with Eden Hazard moving into a central role in attack.
But it didn’t say much for what Conte thinks of Costa’s supposed understudy, Michy Batshuayi.
Depsite being signed for more than £ 30million last summer, the Belgian is still to start a League contest for the West Londoners.
This fixture had been pivotal in each of Chelsea’s last two seasons. The first was a 3- 1 victory that all but put the seal on their title triumph.
In December, 2015, a 2-1 defeat was the last game before Jose Mourinho was shown the door after his second spell in charge of the club as things unravelled.
The pressure was on here as Chelsea kicked off knowing that both Tottenham and Arsenal had racked up four-goal wins earlier in the day.
The Foxes had to make do without their stars at the Africa Cup of Nations, but there was a first League start for new £ 15 million midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, a January arrival from Genk.
And in front of a typically vibrant atmosphere, Thibaut Courtois was forced into action immediately with a save at his near post from Ahmed Musa.
But from Chelsea’s first attack, they took the lead from an unlikely source.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross was not dealt with by the Leicester defence and Hazard had the presence of mind to lay it off to Marcos Alonso, with the left wing- back expertly finding the bottom corner with his wrong foot.
The visitors were making light of the absence of Costa, but he wasn’t forgotten by the away fans, who chanted his name throughout the contest.
Things were comfortable, but in a rare surge forward from the Foxes, Jamie Vardy’s pace got him the wrong side of Gary Cahill, and Cour tois was forced to make a sprawling save to deal with the low ball into the danger zone.
Chelsea showed real invention in trying to double their lead with a well- crafted free-kick.
Instead of shooting, David Luiz picked out Hazard, who touched it to Pedro, but the Spaniard couldn’t apply the desired finish and shot wide.
But they had their two- goal cushion six minutes after the break. Willian’s free- kick was cleared to the edge of the area, where Alonso took aim with his favoured left.
His shot took a touch off a diving Wes Morgan and that was enough to take it beyond a despairing Kasper Schmeichel.
Alonso had two previous unheralded spells in English football with Bolton and Sunderland, but it is proving third-time lucky for the Spaniard.
He was so close to a sensational hat-trick when he met Victor Moses’ deep cross with a sweet volley that beat the keeper but fizzed just past the far post.
Yet further gloss to the scoreline was added by Alonso’s countryman Pedro, who headed into an empty net after Willian’s shot looped up off the goalkeeper.
So three goals from Spain and not one of them from the Premier League’s joint- top scorer – and the perfect way to bounce back from defeat at Tottenham in their last League outing.