Chelsea hit Burnley 4 times
Four second-half goals, including a strike from Christian Pulisic, eased Chelsea to a 4-0 victory over Burnley, ending a tumultuous week at Stamford Bridge amid owner Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell the club.
Relegation strugglers Burnley kept Chelsea at bay in the first half, but Thomas Tuchel’s side moved into a higher gear after the break, scoring three goals inside eight minutes before Pulisic capped a comfortable victory.
Reece James opened the scoring on 47 minutes, skipping past Burnley midfielder Dwight McNeil before striking home. Kai Havertz doubled his side’s lead five minutes later when he nodded in a superb cross from Pulisic.
Havertz added another on 55 minutes as he bundled home a fizzed cross from James, before Pulisic netted Chelsea’s fourth, tapping in to secure all three points.
“The first goal helped us. In these matches that are so tight, that obviously gives you a lot of confidence,” Tuchel said.
“It’s a good performance overall because it’s not easy to come to Turf Moor. It was a good team performance, very focused. It improves my impression that we’re constantly getting better and better. We deserved to win and it was a very good second half.”
Saturday’s result, which moves Chelsea six points clear into third place, comes as owner Abramovich put the club up for sale amid potential UK government sanctions against him following Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Sources have told, at least 10 credible, interested buyers have been identified by Raine Group, the New York merchant bank hired by Abramovich to find a buyer.
Chelsea are 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, while Burnley stay in 18th place on 21 points.
Philippe Coutinho shines again
Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho scored one and made another to help Aston Villa thrash Southampton 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Villa were far superior to Saints in the first half, and could have scored more than two in the opening period, but a fine early finish from Ollie Watkins and a slick team goal just before the break put the hosts in command nonetheless.
There was no letting up after halftime as Coutinho, who delightfully set up Douglas Luiz for Villa’s second, then got in on the act, showing quick feet before finding the net to put the game to bed seven minutes into the second half.
Danny Ings’ side-footed finish two minutes later put the result beyond all doubt, with Villa able to take their foot off the gas for the remainder of the match.
A second successive victory moves Villa up to 11th in the standings, two points behind Southampton in ninth after Ralph Hasenhuettl’s side suffered their first defeat in eight in all competitions.
Courtesy: ESPN
