Chelsea made light of the injury-enforced absences of their two main strikers by crushing bottom side Norwich City 7-0 on Saturday to cement their place at the top of the Premier League table.
The Blues saw both senior forwards hobble off injured during Wednesday's Champions League victory over Malmo, Romelu Lukaku's twisted ankle shortly followed by a hamstring strain for Timo Werner.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel opted to deploy a front-three of Kai Havertz flanked by Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and the two academy graduates helped the rampant hosts to a dominant win, which could arguably have been worse for Norwich were it not for a string of fine saves from Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul in the second half.
Mount started the rout with his first goal since May, ending a run of 15 scoreless club appearances as the 22-year-old midfielder lashed home a fine finish into the bottom corner. Hudson-Odoi doubled Chelsea's lead after racing on to a through-ball from Mateo Kovacic and coolly slotting past Krul.
Reece James, who like Mount and Hudson-Odoi came through the Chelsea academy, made it 3-0 before the break with a sumptuous chip having been played in by Mount.
Ben Chilwell then continued his rich vein of goal-scoring form by firing home Chelsea's fourth 12 minutes after the interval. It was the England wing-back's fourth goal in five games for club and country.
The Blues extended their lead further five minutes later when Norwich defender Max Aarons deflected Hudson-Odoi's cross past Krul. The rout was already complete but the Canaries' afternoon was made even tougher when defender Ben Gibson was given his marching orders after earning a second yellow card for a reckless lunge on James.
There was still plenty of time for more Chelsea goals and Mount duly delivered. The England international grabbed his second in the 85th-minute from the penalty spot but had VAR to thank after it spotted Krul off his line while saving the first attempt. Mount made no mistake with his second effort to make it 6-0, and he completed his hat-trick in stoppage time by tapping home Ruben Loftus-Cheek's square pass.
“Before the game, I put pressure on myself to get on the scoresheet because it’d been quite a long time since I did,” Mount said. “Then three goals in one game.
"We were on it for the whole game. We never stopped.”
Chelsea v Norwich player ratings
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CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. It’s been a breeze of a week for the Chelsea No 1 after the cakewalk against Malmo and now this. Has earned a couple of easy outings after his all-action display against Brentford last weekend. EPA -
Trevoh Chalobah – 7. Has taken to Chelsea first-team football like a duck to water and this was about as easy as it gets at Premier League level. AP -
Thiago Silva – 7. Typically composed display by the ageless Brazilian. Reuters -
Antonio Rudiger – 7. Making a habit of his adventurous dribbles, much to the fans’ delight. Rarely called into action defensively but was his usual solid self. Won the penalty after his shot struck Normann’s hand. Reuters -
Reece James – 8. Took his goal like a silky striker, dinking the ball over Krul for Chelsea’s third. A game where he was allowed to play as an additional winger, given Chelsea’s total dominance and Norwich’s general lack of attacking threat. Getty Images -
Ben Chilwell – 8. Isn’t confidence a fickle thing? Cited as the reason Chilwell hardly featured at the start of the season, the wing-back now has four goals in his last five games for club and country after his latest fantastic finish. Looks to be Tuchel’s first-choice again. Getty Images -
Jorginho – 7. Lovely little pass to create the assist for Mount’s opener and helped Chelsea maintain dominance of the ball throughout. Replaced just after the hour mark. Getty Images -
Mateo Kovacic – 8. Played a defence-splitter to set up Hudson-Odoi and grabbed a second assist when laying on Chilwell in another dominant performance by the Croatian midfielder. AFP -
Mason Mount – 10. Hadn’t quite been at his best this season – until today. This had all the hallmarks of a top Mount performance: superbly taken goal, smart pass to assist James, and a display packed full of quality and intensity. Put a bow on his game with a well-taken penalty at the second attempt and slotted home to complete his hat-trick. Getty Images -
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 8. Handed his chance in attack with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner sidelined, Hudson-Odoi ran Norwich ragged and scored a fine goal to double Chelsea’s lead. His cross also forced the own goal for his team’s fifth. Getty Images -
Kai Havertz – 6. Led the line in Lukaku’s absence and it should have been a chance to fill his boots. Would be disappointed not to get on the scoresheet and was the least dangerous of Chelsea’s attacking players. AFP -
SUBS: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Jorginho 64’) – 7. Continues to impress when given opportunities by Tuchel. Set up Mount’s hat-trick goal. AFP -
Ross Barkley (Havertz 70’) – 6. Came off the bench and played with great intensity. Would have been on the scoresheet were it not for a fine save by Krul. AP -
Hakim Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 70’) – 6. A couple of wayward crosses but showed great feet and skill to draw a wide foul. Reuters -
NORWICH CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Tim Krul – 6. If there was one player who didn’t deserve to be on the end of a battering, it was the Norwich keeper. Little fault with any of the goals and produced two superb saves, shortly before saving Mount’s penalty – only for it to be retaken. A tough afternoon for what is shaping up to be a tough season for Norwich. Reuters -
Ozan Kabak – 4. The Turkish defender will be having nightmares about Hudson-Odoi. Thoroughly outplayed and part of a Norwich defence torn to bits. EPA -
Ben Gibson – 2. Given a torrid time by Chelsea’s relentless attacks and his frustrations boiled over when he was sent off after earning a second yellow for a reckless challenge. Perhaps fortunately for him, the rout was already completed by then. EPA -
Grant Hanley – 4. Like Kabak and Gibson (before he was sent off), Hanley was run ragged by Chelsea all afternoon. Getty Images -
Max Aarons – 3. Had little opportunity to attack and was outclassed by his opposite wing-back Chilwell. A tough outing was compounded when he scored an own goal. Getty Images -
Pierre Lees-Melou – 4. Overrun and outplayed. Left chasing shadows as Chelsea ran rings around Norwich’s midfield. Hooked at half-time. Reuters -
Mathias Normann – 5. Same as Lees-Melou, although made an additional contribution by handling in the area for Chelsea’s penalty. Getty Images -
Kenny McLean – 5. No half-time substitution and no penalty handball. Similar impact though. PA -
Dimitris Giannoulis – 4. Given such a rough time that he was swapped at half-time. EPA -
Josh Sargent – 3. The summer signing from Werder Bremen is still waiting for his first Premier League goal. It was never going to come here. Replaced for final 20 minutes. PA -
Teemu Pukki – 3. It was always going to be a tough day for the striker and so it proved. Didn’t even have scraps to feed off. AFP -
SUBS: Milot Rashica (Lees-Melou 45’) – 4. Made about as much of an impact as the player he replaced. Reuters -
Brandon Williams (Giannoulis 45’) – 5. Manchester United loanee had no chance to effect the game against a rampant Chelsea. Getty Images -
Andrew Omobamidele (Sargent 69’) – 4. Damage was already done by the time he was introduced. AP
Tuchel was understandably pleased with his team's performance but insisted it is far too early in the season to be discussing their title credentials, although such talk among observers feels inevitable following such a ruthless display.
“We were sharp and put in a lot of effort," the German said. "We pressed high and won many balls, we played with a high rhythm and created a lot of chances. To score seven you also need a bit of luck and momentum, but it was a good effort.
“You don’t find any manager in the world who gives you a statement on favourites or the title race in October," he added. "We are where we are and we know what we want to do.
“If you want to be a contender for the top places you have to show resilience. It doesn’t help if you talk about it today. We have to keep working hard to keep the momentum going."
While Chelsea continue to motor, Norwich are yet to even find first gear. The promoted club are still seeking their first win of the season and are firmly rooted to the foot of the table.
However, Norwich manager Daniel Farke is in no mood to throw in the towel, particularly at this early stage of the campaign.
“It’s an unbelievably tough day. In all areas we were not good enough for this level," he said. "We were nowhere near to what we can play. The goals we conceded were not even too difficult to defend against. For this world-class level we were not competitive enough.
“It’s not the right moment to start a discussion [about relegation]. It’s not the time to talk too much, it’s time to roll the sleeves up and work.”
