Premier League - Anelka puts Chelsea top

Eurosport - Mon, 10 Nov 08:58:00 2008

Nicolas Anelka struck twice as Chelsea went back to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at a rain-soaked Ewood Park.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea Nicolas Anelka - 0

A torrential downpour made conditions almost unplayable in Lancashire but Anelka overcame the elements to find the net in each half and fire Chelsea back above Liverpool on goal difference.

Anelka broke the deadlock on 39 minutes, deflecting a long-range Alex shot past Paul Robinson, before adding a second in the 68th minute with a cool dinked finish over the otherwise excellent Rovers keeper.

The win - on manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's 60th birthday - was Chelsea's sixth out of six on the road so far this season and did much to make amends for their Champions League defeat to Roma in midweek.

Despite the appalling playing conditions, the visitors flew out of the blocks and went on to dominate the first half, even though it took them the majority of the opening period to find a way through the Rovers defence.

That the deadlock lasted so long had much to do with the form of Robinson, who pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Anelka two headed efforts, a John Obi Mikel header and Frank Lampard's bouncing strike before even 20 minutes were on the clock.

Chelsea had earlier seen a loud penalty shout waved away by referee Chris Foy when Anelka tumbled to the ground under a challenge from Robinson after having latched onto a suicidal Keith Andrews back pass. Replays showed there was minimal contact between the two.

Terry saw a header fly over the bar before Anelka and Lampard were again thwarted by Robinson as Chelsea pressed for an opener.

The pressure finally told as Anelka netted his first of the day six minutes before the half-time whistle; the goal stood despite loud calls from Robinson for handball against the Frenchman.

During the break, the skies cleared and by the time the second half kicked off the weather were far more clement - Blackburn capitalised and began to work their way back into the game as Chelsea eased off the gas.

During the opening period, Blackburn had just a Carlos Villanueva shot on the break to shout about - an effort which brought a fine save out of Petr Cech - but once the rain had stopped, Paul Ince's side looked far more threatening.

The hosts could have equalised soon after the restart when Jason Roberts - asked to play as a lone striker due to Blackburn's injury problems - turned John Terry with some neat control on his chest to make space for a shot. Only a fine save by Cech foiled him.

Blackburn continued to press for an equaliser, but Chelsea hit them on the break on 68 minutes to effectively seal all three points.

Anelka registered his sixth goal in the last three league games when he reacted sharply to pounce on a loose ball in the box ahead of Robinson, clipping it over the keeper and into the back of the net.

At 2-0 up, Chelsea were able to cruise for the remainder of the game, and they should have added to their tally, Lampard rattling the cross bar with a terrific free-kick moments before Terry missed his kick from close range with eight minutes left.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 25 - 44 of 104

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Just remember Money and sucess go hand in hand at this level. Please can we have some serious backers to enable the competition to increase to at least seven teams and make the sport enjoyable for many more fans

    From Sadoldgit, on Sun 9 Nov 6:17PM

  2. Hey JINTY WARD you are so sad, it is money that kept the cartell of Liverpool Arsenal and Man u as the only clubs able to win anything for years. It was always going to be money that would enable other clubs to break that cartell. Get over it Chelsea have joined the three. .

    From Sadoldgit, on Sun 9 Nov 6:16PM

  3. Hey JINTY WARD you are so sad,

    From Sadoldgit, on Sun 9 Nov 6:15PM

  4. Blue is the color and chelsea is the name. Haters, whether u like it or nai we still on top. All out chelsea..

    From weblizby, on Sun 9 Nov 6:14PM

  5. Blue is the color and chelsea is the name. Haters, whether u like it or nai we still on top. All out chelsea..

    From weblizby, on Sun 9 Nov 6:09PM

  6. I think it is Chelsea's league title this year, United and the Gunners have too much ground to make up, and also Liverpool will be more successful in the cups.

    United's failings are for once not picking up points against the other three.

    Stevehaw78.

    From Steven, on Sun 9 Nov 6:07PM

  7. god bless you.........weirdo!!

    From ., on Sun 9 Nov 6:04PM

  8. not printable, good job Liverpool dont excite you too much cause if you raised your arms to celebrate your tits would drop out just like the wheels of luckypool will surley fall off soon.

    From Sadoldgit, on Sun 9 Nov 6:01PM

  9. WHY PEOPLE THEY CALL ANELKA THAT A PERSON THAT DON;T HAVE HAIR WHY IF YOU KNOW PLEASE TELL ME ................................. BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE SAVE JOURNEY ...................................BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE TO YOU ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BIG BOY BYE BYE BYE

    From happyofgod2002, on Sun 9 Nov 5:59PM

  10. WHY PEOPLE THEY CALL ANELKA THAT A PERSON THAT DON;T HAVE HAIR WHY IF YOU KNOW PLEASE TELL ME ................................. BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE SAVE JOURNEY ...................................BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE TO YOU ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BIG BOY BYE BYE BYE

    From happyofgod2002, on Sun 9 Nov 5:59PM

  11. WHY PEOPLE THEY CALL ANELKA THAT A PERSON THAT DON;T HAVE HAIR WHY IF YOU KNOW PLEASE TELL ME ................................. BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE SAVE JOURNEY ...................................BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE TO YOU ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BIG BOY BYE BYE BYE

    From happyofgod2002, on Sun 9 Nov 5:59PM

  12. good player...........mardy face.

    From ., on Sun 9 Nov 5:58PM

  13. I have no loyalties but from where I stand at the moment this is developing into a two horse race. Chelsea started the best and are playing very well again, apart from that thing in midweek, but Liverpool have been grinding out results in their usual boring manner, but this is their best chance for two decades. Man U should be scoring 3 a game but Fergie has lost his hairdryer and cannot name a settled team. Even then they attack but try to walk the ball in, flicking it about rather than doing something conventional. Arsenal have some great talent but they are a bit in and out, and something tells me they will be that way all season. If I was to advise you to have a bet now, I would offer Chelsea as the best chance. It is interesting, but the fight at the bottom is even more so, better than last year with all 3 places to go down uncertain. This is what makes the PL the best there is

    From taff, on Sun 9 Nov 5:55PM

  14. Hello, good evening do you know that no body beat chelsea in there house , i give them awoard for that one may god bless them in jesus name amen ........................................... i want to join this club i want join you in playing football or a keeper thank you for answering my request may god bless you in

    US
    name

    From happyofgod2002, on Sun 9 Nov 5:52PM

  15. Hello, good evening do you know that no body beat chelsea in there house , i give them awoard for that one may god bless them in jesus name amen ........................................... i want to join this club i want join you in playing football or a keeper thank you for answering my request may god bless you in

    US
    name

    From happyofgod2002, on Sun 9 Nov 5:52PM

  16. @#$% you tony fransenal will be smacked at the end of tjis month

    From lampar7i, on Sun 9 Nov 5:40PM

  17. watagwan rudeblues bigup 4 anelka
    and all a dem chelsea crew
    jah bless us

    From azoro_05, on Sun 9 Nov 5:40PM

  18. Not much of a game but its 3 points for Chelski!!
    But it means the pressure is back with the scousers.

    From tc, on Sun 9 Nov 5:11PM

  19. You know... Its fans like JINTY Ward@#$% who make me sick.
    And who do u support D*ickhead? Man. utd? or are u a gunner? maybe a liverpool fan...or probably a toon?

    Anyone who knows anything about football will know that chelsea didn't soend an abnormal amount of money. They spent 70 million pounds when Mourinho came in.
    Understadable. They needed drastic changes in the team to become potential tital rivals to the big four who were pretty much the same teams but with Newcastle making it to the top four spot.
    Look at how much Manchester pays there players...Fergie is pushing to let Ronaldo be paid 150 a month jus to keep him in the club.
    Arsenal doesn't spend as much as the big four and look how tough it is for them... look how slim their chances are.
    Dont talk about something u have no idea about. frikkin losers....they watch 2 football matches they think they r experts

    From sidman_1988, on Sun 9 Nov 5:07PM

  20. Nothing much to add really other than the Blue Boys are the number 1team again. Forget all the rubbish printed about a brought team with loads of money, just take a look at Man City !! loads of money ,mediocre players.

    From webisan1, on Sun 9 Nov 5:03PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account