Chelsea 3-0 Luton Town: Raheem Sterling double helps Blues see off Hatters
Sterling #Sterling
Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 17 goals in his past 17 Premier League appearances against promoted teams (13 goals, four assists), including six in his six appearances in this run as a Chelsea player
Forward Raheem Sterling is “100%” focused on scoring goals as his double helped Chelsea cruise past Luton to record their first Premier League win under Mauricio Pochettino.
The 28-year-old scored twice and assisted Nicolas Jackson on Friday, and wants to get back to being “obsessed” with football.
Sterling, who has started the campaign in excellent form, said he wants to be the club’s top scorer this season.
“It’s a target I had to set myself [being Chelsea’s top scorer this season] – it’s something I know I can do,” he told Sky Sports after the match.
Sterling received the ball wide on the right and jinked his way through three players before firing into the bottom corner to open the scoring in the 17th minute.
The England winger then doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 67th minute when he scored from close range from a Malo Gusto cross.
Sterling was involved again as Chelsea got their third, sending a low cross into the area for Jackson to score his first goal for the club.
Luton, who are still looking for their first points of the season since being promoted from the Championship, caused Chelsea problems throughout the game but the Blues’ quality saw them take all three points.
Chelsea, who handed a full debut to their £100m signing Moises Caicedo, will be happy with the win but Pochettino will know they have much to work on as they were far from their best.
The match was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, and it needed a good save from Robert Sanchez to stop Luton levelling when the score was 1-0.
Ben Chilwell should have made it 2-0 before the two second-half goals from Sterling and Jackson, but chose to pass instead of shooting when through on goal.
Sterling getting back to his best
After his £50m transfer from Manchester City, last season Sterling scored nine goals in 38 appearances – his lowest return since his debut campaign with Liverpool.
This season, however, Sterling looks like he is getting back to his best. Pochettino has spoken to the forward throughout this pre-season and the beginning of the campaign as he looks to get the best out of him – which seems to be having the desired effect.
Sterling’s opening goal showed exactly why he is a key part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad when fully fit. He has not been in the past two Three Lions squads because of fitness issues, but it seems likely he will be included following his start to this season when the latest squad is named next week.
His second goal against Luton showed his calmness when in dangerous positions, and the pass for Jackson’s goal highlighted his quality.
If Chelsea are to get back to the top end of the table Sterling will be key to their hopes, as he is by far the most experienced and proven attacker they possess.
“If I’m 100% at something, I know what I can do and that’s what I’m doing this year – just 100% focus on scoring goals and helping my team,” said Sterling.
“I want to get back to being obsessed with football. Just football 24/7 and nothing else and focus on top performances and goals and assists.”
Chelsea manager Pochettino also spoke to Sky Sports and said of Sterling’s performance: “He played with freedom on the pitch. We know what he is capable of.
“We are pleased for him. He needs to keep going and contribute more goals and assists to help the team to win.”
Luton show they will cause problems this season
Much was made of the players’ pricetags before this match, with new Chelsea signing Caicedo costing more than the whole Luton squad.
However, at times you could not tell the difference in budget with the threat Luton carried.
Issa Kabore was dangerous down the right, and Luton’s coaching team encouraged the full-back to run at Chilwell whenever he got the chance.
Tahith Chong flashed a shot high and wide after he nicked the ball from Caicedo, while Ryan Giles tested Sanchez in the Chelsea goal in the second half but they could not find a clear chance to score.
The Hatters showed again that they are an organised team that will cause sides in the Premier League problems, but Chelsea’s superior quality saw them win comfortably.
Player of the match
SterlingRaheem Sterling
Chelsea
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number15Player nameJackson
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number8Player nameFernández
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number27Player nameGusto
Squad number26Player nameColwill
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number1Player nameSánchez
Squad number2Player nameDisasi
Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Squad number16Player nameUgochukwu
Squad number29Player nameMaatsen
Squad number37Player nameBurstow
Luton Town
Squad number24Player nameKaminski
Squad number9Player nameMorris
Squad number45Player nameDoughty
Squad number11Player nameAdebayo
Squad number7Player nameOgbene
Squad number12Player nameKaboré
Squad number6Player nameBarkley
Squad number29Player nameBell
Squad number16Player nameBurke
Squad number14Player nameChong
Squad number17Player nameMpanzu
Squad number19Player nameBrown
Squad number4Player nameLockyer
Squad number13Player nameNakamba
Squad number26Player nameGiles
Squad number5Player nameAndersen
Line-upsChelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Sánchez
2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill
27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21Chilwell
7Sterling8Fernández
15Jackson
Substitutes
Luton
Formation 5-3-2
24Kaminski
12Kaboré16Burke4Lockyer29Bell26Giles
14Chong13Nakamba6Barkley
11Adebayo9Morris
Substitutes
Referee:Robert Jones
Attendance:39,893
Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.
Substitution, Chelsea. Mason Burstow replaces Raheem Sterling.
Ian Maatsen (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ian Maatsen (Chelsea).
Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Moisés Caicedo.
Substitution, Chelsea. Ian Maatsen replaces Ben Chilwell.
Attempt missed. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Carlton Morris with a headed pass.
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Substitution, Chelsea. Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Nicolas Jackson.
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alfie Doughty (Luton Town).
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Axel Disasi.
Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvelous Nakamba.
Attempt blocked. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Malo Gusto (Chelsea).
Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.