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Chelsea produced a magnificent performance to claim a 2-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa that could have been much more emphatic.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Luiz Felipe Scolari's side top of the table, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, but the manner of the performance provided a stark warning to Chelsea's title rivals.

They simply overwhelmed Martin O'Neill's highly-rated Villa side, unleashing wave after wave of attacks and racking up 27 shots.

And this was with three key components of their vaunted spine - Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba - missing through injury.

John Terry played after shrugging off a back injury, while Branislav Ivanovic replaced centre-back Alex, who has a buttock complaint.

Cole started the game and supplied the opening goal but, worryingly, went off with another injury just before the hour mark.

That could have significant ramifications with England playing World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus in the next 10 days.

Having drawn away to Romanians Cluj in midweek, Chelsea started like a side with a point to prove and tore into their opponents.

Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda both had early shots while Anelka squandered two good chances - all within the first 10 minutes.

Anelka then turned provider, setting the superb Frank Lampard up with a neat lob, but the midfielder headed just wide on 16 minutes.

But the goal was not long in coming. In the 16th minute Malouda intercepted a poor clearance. He found Lampard, who in turn slid a superb ball to Cole, whose finish was hard and true past the overworked Brad Friedel.

Soon afterwards Anelka hit the crossbar with a long-range piledriver and Lampard tested Friedel with a powerful free-kick. Relentless stuff.

O'Neill would have prayed to get into half-time just one goal down, but it was not to be.

Just over a minute before the break Ashley Cole pulled a low ball back to the edge of the box. Friedel parried Ballack's shot, then Anelka's follow-up, but could do nothing about the third attempt, also from Anelka.

Villa's best chance of the day came moments later, when Gabriel Agbonlahor had time and space at the edge of the Chelsea area but fired off a disappointing shot.

Villa brought on Carlos Cuellar - for the hapless Curtis Davies - and James Milner but the onslaught continued in the second half.

First Ballack fired over from close range, then teenage substitute Franco Di Santo went close, then John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea's lack of clinical finishing can be Scolari's only complaint - something denied them by Drogba's absence with a knee injury.

But still it was devastating stuff, cementing their status as favourites to retain their Premier League title.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Hull. Scolari's Chelsea appear ready to see off any challengers.

Alex Chick / Eurosport