CHELSEA hammered Sheffield United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge as Hakim Ziyech turned in a masterclass.
But they could face a battle to keep hold of N'Golo Kante with Antonio Conte reportedly desperate to bring the midfielder to Inter.
Get all the latest updates from Stamford Bridge here…
- Jake Lambourne
FAB SIGNINGS
Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has hailed the club's summer business as he stated they should be competing for the Premier League title.
He told the Daily Mail: “I like this team a lot.
“They added a lot of quality, speed and creativity which was missing.
“They also added leadership in Thiago Silva.
“They should aim to win the league this season because I believe with Liverpool and Man City they have the best squad talent-wise.”
- Jake Lambourne
BLUE MOON
Broadcaster Ian Darke believes Chelsea can win the Premier League should Thiago Silva remain fully fit throughout the season.
He told ESPN: “I think they're strong dark horses the way things are shaping. The big question was could they mend their leaky defence?
“It looks like they can, because Mendy's looked solid since he's come into play in goal and Thiago Silva's a terrific leader and all class at the back.
“So I think if they can keep Thiago Silva fit, with the attacking talent they've got as well, they've got as good a chance as anybody.”
- Jake Lambourne
SON OF A GUN
Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri has opened up on his future as he revealed he could leave the club in January.
As quoted by Calciomercato, the Italian defender said: “Here at the national team I play, I have fun and I’m fine.
“The coach told me that the best solution for me is to play, at Chelsea or in another team, let’s wait for the next two months and see what will happen.
“Unfortunately I’m not playing at Chelsea, but I’m calm, I think things can improve in London or in another place.
“There was some interest in me but not concrete things. I’d like to return to play in Italy but I can’t say if it will happen in January or in five years.”
- Jake Lambourne
OFF THE WALL
Former Chelsea star Tony Cascarino has claimed that Theo Walcott was 'never coached properly' by Arsene Wenger.
He said on Talksport: “I have always been a fan on Walcott.
“But I have always felt he has never been coached properly because he was such a young player who left Southampton to go to Arsenal. He joined a fantastic squad of players at Arsenal.
“He sort of found his way. At moments he had one season he had 20 plus goals and it looked like he wanted to play a centre-forward role instead of being a wide player.
“Honestly, I think he’s one player who hasn’t been coached enough about numerous positions to play in and progression in a player because Theo’s got everything.
“He’s technically good and he has got incredible speed. I think if you worked with Theo about the tactical side and I think he’s an intelligent young man.
“I think one of the biggest things that happened at Arsenal with Wenger was Theo. I didn’t think Theo was a player that should have improved like he should have.
- Jake Lambourne
WOUNDED ANIMALS
Chelsea women's boss Emma Hayes is expecting Arsenal to 'double their efforts' for this weekend's derby clash.
She said: “There always is. Both teams know each other inside and out.
“I have huge respect for Arsenal and, knowing that they are wounded from last weekend, I always pay even more respect to a team that's been defeated.
“I know what defeat feels like and the natural response is to double their efforts. That's what I'm expecting from them.
“Arsenal are a top team, they have been in my tenure here. Ever since I've been in the women's game they've been the biggest club in this country.
“They are always in and around the hunt for trophies every season.
“They score more goals than any other team, their attacking and build-up play is exceptional and they've got players who have won major honours.
“I know it will be a huge test because derby games are not normal games, there is a lot at stake and there's a lot of unpredictability to the game.”
- Alan Scott
GOOD MORNING,CHELSEA FANS
Kai Havertz has revealed the motivation behind summer switch to Stamford Bridge.
He told Sport Bild: “It was important for me to have a club with a vision.
“An exciting change is taking place. A transfer like this doesn't happen overnight.
“I had go through all options and things that are important to me.
“I was watching a lot of Premier League football on TV so I knew Chelsea really well.”
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish has jumped to the defence of under-fire Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
The England and Aston Villa star said: “I love Mason.
“It's a bit annoying actually because he probably gets a bit of stick about it at times but I've always been close with him.
“I think he's an absolutely terrific player. I don't even feel like we're fighting for the same spot to be honest.
“If anything I think Mason's underrated and he deserves all the credit he gets and I think that people who know about football will understand how good he is.”
And finally, Timo Werner has claimed playing at Chelsea is making him more robust.
Speaking at a press conference, the Blues star said: “In England, they play long balls a lot, the style of play is a bit different from here in the national team.
“I am becoming more robust myself because I have to deal with so many robust opportunities.
“That also helps in the national team, but there are always other things that matter.”
- Joe Brophy
WHAT ZI-YECH
Avram Grant believes Hakim Ziyech can become a crucial player for Frank Lampard this season.
He toldThe National: “Frank will be a very good manager – now he is a good manager – but with experience because he’s an intelligent guy.
“He has a good brain for football, he knows the game and he’s played under a lot of coaches, [and] each one gave him a different perspective.
“Even though people say he is young, he didn’t start immediately in Chelsea – he with Derby for a year. He did a good job and last year, with the transfer ban, it was a good experience for him.
“You see the results now, what Chelsea have done this year. They did a very good job in the transfer window, and no doubt they will fight for the championship. I’m sure of this.”
- Joe Brophy
A-MACING
Ian Wright blasted the ‘disgraceful’ treatment of Mason Mount.
Wright told ITV: “You know what? I think it’s disgraceful the way people have talked about Mason Mount getting his berth in front of whoever.
“Mount is in there on credit and what he’s able to do. It’s unfair the amount of stick he gets for being chosen by Gareth (Southgate).”
- Joe Brophy
FAN THE FLAMES
Christian Pulisic has conceded that he missed fans being in the stadium.
He told Chelsea's website about what he missed the most: “Just the fans, just the atmosphere in the stadium and being able to be with the fans.
“Like when you are celebrating a goal, it is not the same when you don’t have your own fans to run to.”
- Joe Brophy
JA-DONE
Former Chelsea target Jadon Sancho says his current form has not been affected by speculation over his future this summer.
He told ITV: “No, I don't think so.”
Sancho added: “I feel like every player has a little dip in their career and I'm going through that at the moment.
“It is just how I am bouncing back and I'm just happy to have managers who have faith in me and keep starting me.”
- Joe Brophy
PUL THE OTHER ONE
Christian Pulisic has lifted the lid on the hobbies he picked up this year.
He told the club's website: “I think a lot of us were just very bored during the lockdown, trying to find different things to do and different hobbies so one of mine was dancing, because I am obviously very good at dancing!
“I went golfing a couple of times, I tried to find things to do.”
- Joe Brophy
ZOUM AHEAD
Chelsea are reportedly set to offer Kurt Zouma a new contract.
It comes after his incredible rejuvenation at the club and reports of transfer interest from Premier League rivals.
Frank Lampard is said to be happy with his performances this season and sees him as a 'future leader' at the club, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Romano said: “Chelsea will soon negotiate a new contract extension for Kurt Zouma. Player is very happy at the club, Frank Lampard is happy with him and sees his 'new leader' as the future of the club.”
The Frenchman has been hugely impressive at Stamford Bridge this season and become a regular starter under Lampard.
It's a stunning turn-around in fortune for a player who was said to be on his way out of the club this summer.
- Joe Brophy
LAMP LIGHT
Tariq Lamptey has recalled making his senior Chelsea debut against Arsenal.
He told 90min: “It was a surreal feeling.
“An amazing game, a proud moment for me and my family, and one that I won't forget.”
- Joe Brophy
FEELING BLUE
Tariq Lamptey has revealed that Chelsea saw potential in him when he was just seven-years old.
He told 90min: “I joined Chelsea as an Under-9, but it originally started at Under-7 when I was playing in a local tournament.
“After the game, a scout came up to my dad and said 'we want to see a bit more of him, can he come down to the development centre at Chelsea?'.
“I used to play in every position. I used to get the ball from deep and just start running. You could put me up front and if someone's going to go through on goal and score, I'd run the whole length of the pitch back and tackle them.
“I started at right wing, but I moved around quite a bit because they're really good with helping you develop your all-round game. Throughout the ages, I went from centre-mid, to right wing to right-back, so I played in a variety of positions on both sides of the pitch.”
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- Joe Brophy
LAMPED UP
Tariq Lamptey has lifted the lid on his Chelsea exit.
He told 90min : “I'm an ambitious boy. I look at things and enjoy them in the moment, but the next day I'm looking to see what I need to improve on and how I can stay at that level.
“I'm always looking for a chance to play again, and that moment made me even more hungry. I'd had a taste of it and I wasn't going to let it go.
“I sat down with the coaches, family members and agents and thought about what's best for me. It was a really tough decision.
“Being at a club since the age of nine, going up through the whole system and making your first-team debut, everything happened so quickly.
“But I had to look at where I would get the most football and how I could take my game to the next level.
“It wasn't an easy decision. I thought about it every day. But the opportunity came for me to come to Brighton, which is a fantastic club with a really good plan for the team, and the move made a lot of sense.
“There was quite a few options to go to, but I sat down with my family and talked about where would be best for me, where could help me develop, and I thought Brighton would be the best club for me.”
- Joe Brophy
RUN OF THE MIL
SunSport can reveal Carlo Ancelotti is ready to go back to Napoli with a cut-price offer for former Chelsea target Arkadiusz Milik.
The Everton boss has already signed £22million Allan from his former club and now wants Milik to boost his Goodison attacking options.
The 26-year-old Polish international has not played a single game for Napoli this season and is out of contract in the summer.
But Ancelotti has not forgotten how Milik scored 29 goals during his 18 months at the Stadio San Paolo, including a hat-trick in his final game in charge against Genk in the Champions League.
And he is hoping that a bid in the region of £10million could be enough to persuade Napoli to sell in January.
- Joe Brophy
ICYMI
Arsenal and Chelsea are in a battle to sign Jerome Boateng on a free transfer, according to reports.
And London rivals Tottenham may join the chase for the German defender.
According to Sport Bild in Germany, Bayern Munich will refuse to offer Boateng a new deal.
The former Manchester City man, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season.
- Joe Miles
ED'S UP
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy pulled off an incredible save on international duty.
The Senegal star, 28, was between the sticks as his country beat Guinea-Bissau in an African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Already 2-0 up in injury time, Mendy was desperate to keep hold of his clean sheet.
And he did so in emphatic fashion.
Guinea-Bissau had a free-kick on the left and Marcelo Djalo's powerful header looked destined to fly into the back of the net.
But Mendy showed lightning-quick reaction to push it over for a corner.
- Joe Miles
ITALIAN JOB
Emerson dropped a huge hint about his future as he admitted 'I would like to come back to Serie A'.
As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, the Chelsea star said: “I’m not playing a lot but I’m calm, I’m confident that things are gonna change, here or elsewhere.
“In two months we will see if I will have had some space at Chelsea, or we will evaluate other options.
“I had received some offers, surely I would like to come back to Serie A “.
- Joe Miles
LIVE AND WERN
Timo Werner has claimed playing at Chelsea is making him more robust.
Speaking at a press conference, the Blues star said: “In England, they play long balls a lot, the style of play is a bit different from here in the national team.
“I am becoming more robust myself because I have to deal with so many robust opportunities.
“That also helps in the national team, but there are always other things that matter.”
- Joe Miles
LION IN WAIT
The field is set, the fixtures are locked in, and Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 preparations are hotting up.
Here's how SunSport's Etienne Fermie reckons England could line-up with both Jack Grealish and Mason Mount in the squad.
- Joe Miles
PALM HIM OFF
Juventus are reportedly prepared to make a move for Emerson Palmieri if Federico Bernardeschi leaves in January.
Italian source Corriere di Torino claim the Chelsea centre-half is their first-choice replacement for Bernardeschi.
The Serie A side were also linked to the 26-year-old throughout the summer transfer window.
Palmieri has not made a single appearance for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.
- Joe Miles
'MASON'S UNDERRATED'
Jack Grealish has jumped to the defence of under-fire Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
The England and Aston Villa star said: “I love Mason.
“It's a bit annoying actually because he probably gets a bit of stick about it at times but I've always been close with him.
“I think he's an absolutely terrific player. I don't even feel like we're fighting for the same spot to be honest.
“If anything I think Mason's underrated and he deserves all the credit he gets and I think that people who know about football will understand how good he is.”
- Joe Miles
COVID SCARE
Ireland midfielder Alan Browne tested positive for coronavirus after playing in the friendly defeat to England.
The Preston star, 25, featured for the full 90 minutes at Wembley last night as the Republic of Ireland fell to a 3-0 defeat.
The Irish FA tweeted: “The Football Association of Ireland can confirm Ireland midfielder Alan Browne has tested positive for Covid-19.
“There are no close contacts of the player and the rest of the staff & squad tested negative ahead of Sunday's Uefa Nations League against Wales in Cardiff.”
Inevitably, Browne was in close contact with a number of England stars including Manchester United captain Maguire, Chelsea's Reece James and Tottenham ace Harry Winks.
- Joe Miles
IRON MEN
A WhatsApp group called The Avengers is behind a new celebration shared by James Maddison, Jack Grealish and pals.
A troop of Premier League stars have begun flashing an 'A' symbol with their hands when celebrating goals.
And Leicester star Maddison has revealed the players behind the symbol.
Along with Chelsea star Ben Chilwell, the midfielder said he and a few friends from the game keep in touch over WhatsApp.
Maddison told EA Sports: “We have a little group chat called The Avengers.
“Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley, Dele Alli and John McGinn are the footballers [in the group].”
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