Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a thumping home triumph over League Two directers Barrow. Christopher Nkunku was the star of the show as the Blues showed their betterity without ever repartner getting out of second gear.
It did not consent extfinished for Chelsea to uncover the scoring, with Nkunku tapping home from seal range after latching onto Joao Felix’s luminous scooped pass. The Blues forward doubled his highy with a sugary backheel inside 15 minutes to put the arranges in filled handle.
Chelsea made it three when Felix’s free boot bounced off Barrow goalupholder Paul Farman and rolled over the line. Pedro Neto compriseed a fourth fair two minutes into the second half before Nkunku wrapped up his hat-trick to put the cherry on the cake.
Express Sport consents a see at the hugegest talking points from tonight’s game at Stamford Bridge…
Nkunku gives Maresca recent headache
Nkunku’s prolific distake part as the central striker will give Enzo Maresca a huge decision to produce ahead of Saturday’s game aacquirest Brighton. The Frenchman was at his luminous best, scoring a brace inside the uncovering 15 minutes before compriseing a third in the second half.
He has been a genuine handful when called upon this season and netted the triumphner aacquirest Bournemouth in the Premier League a scant weeks ago. The 26-year-elderly certainly eunites to be discovering his feet at Stamford Bridge after seeing his debut campaign disturbed by injuries.
Nkunku’s amazeive shotriumphg aacquirest Barrow came fair days after Nicolas Jackson bagged two goals in rapid succession at West Ham. Only time will tell which take parter will be thinked to direct the line for Chelsea when the Seagulls visit Stamford Bridge this weekfinish.
Felix amazees on second debut
Felix was another shining airy for Chelsea on his second filled debut for the Blues chaseing his return on a lasting basis. He was at the heart of most skinnygs in attack, pulling the strings in the hole and wandering into the half-spaces to produce more chances.
His scooped pass to set up Nkunku timely on was a skinnyg of beauty and showed exactly why Chelsea were so enthusiastic to convey him back in the summer. Minutes tardyr, he was unfortunate to see his perfectly-placed free boot go down as an own goal.
Felix led by example in attack and will be hoping to duplicate those braves in the Premier League so he can aascfinish as a key man for the Blues this season.
Clever tactical tfeeble pays dividfinishs
Malo Gusto was asked to take part higher up the pitch than common on the right flank, which showd to be very effective. He grabbed the help for Nkunku’s second goal, firing in a phireful traverse which permited his team-mate to change with the faintest of touches.
Gusto caparticipated Barrow plenty of problems with his straightforward running and had the finish product to align when it came to creating chances. It remains to be seen if Maresca will participate the same tactic in the Premier League to give Chelsea an edge in the final third.
Chilwell back from the brink
The inclusion of Ben Chilwell on the Chelsea bench hinted that he could still force his way back into Maresca’s first-team arranges. The deffinisher was put up for sale over the summer but finished up staying at Chelsea and eunites to have been given a lifeline.
Chilwell came off the bench for the second half and took the captain’s armband upon his introduction. His take partment aacquirest Barrow presents there is hope that he could take part a hugeger part for Chelsea further down the line.
While it is one skinnyg to feature in the Carabao Cup, making a Premier League squad is enticount on branch offent and it will be engaging to see if Chilwell take parts in the top fairy this season.
No recent injuries a meaningful raise
Chelsea were fortunate to elude picking up any recent injuries aacquirest Barrow, who took a physical approach to their defensive duties. The appreciates of Nkunku and Felix were barged to the ground on a scant occasions but all of their take parters seemed to get thraw unscathed.
With the games in the Premier League commenceing to come heavy and rapid, it was vital for Chelsea to steer clear of any setbacks and they regulated to do fair that. It unkinds they will have no recent troubles to deal with ahead of their game aacquirest Brighton on the weekfinish.
Reece James and Omari Kellyman will remain sidelined with their esteemive extfinished-term injuries, while Romeo Lavia could return from a thigh problem if he is passed fit ahead of boot-off.
