Chelsea demolished Aston Villa 7-1 in an amazing display of flowing football. Frank Lampard netted four, whilst Florent Malouda’s double and Salomon Kalou’s first league goal of the season underscored a fabulous night for Ancelotti’s Blues.
The lead was Chelsea’s early on, when Malouda blasted a cross right through the penalty area, where Lampard was at the back post to slide in past Friedel. A lapse from the otherwise impressive Zhirkov left Carew to equalise, but from there it was all Chelsea.
Zhirkov won a penalty a minute before half time, after a foul by James Collins. Lampard stepped up to smash it high into the top corner for 2-1.
A beautiful flowing move involving Deco and Zhirkov set up Malouda to finish neatly for the third, midway through the half, before the marauding Russian left back won another penalty after a clumsy challenge from Richard Dunne. Lampard again went left, this time low, to complete his hat trick with his 150th Chelsea goal.
Chelsea had a fifth, just beyond the hour, when Lampard, involved in everything, set up Malouda. The Frenchman, in wonderful goal scoring touch once more, hit a beautiful right footed finish high into the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
The sixth was Salomon Kalou’s, but it was created by the magnificent Anelka, who had an outstanding match as the lone striker. Holding off three Villa defenders with a mixture of skill and strength, he teed up Kalou to neatly finish into the bottom corner.
Frank Lampard presented the pièce de résistance with his fourth and Chelsea’s seventh. It was vintage Lampard as he arrived late at the edge of the box to volley in after a loose Villa clearance.
In doing so, he completed a marvellous, marvellous attacking performance and one that will certainly have Manchester United studying the footage ahead of Chelsea’s visit next weekend.