Chelsea dazzle in crushing Stoke 7-0

Chelsea put on a dazzling display Sunday as they more than answered the Manchester United challenge from the day before.  On Saturday United hopped over Chelsea in the EPL title race.  On Sunday Chelsea grabbed the top spot back in dominant fashion.  It was a bad day right from the start for Stoke City.  In the opening ten minutes they had to substitute their captain Abdoulaye Faye due to injury.  Shortly after Salomon Kalou would strike for the first of his three goals on the day giving Chelsea the lead.

In the 31st minute, Stoke suffered another injury.  This time it was star goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen who was injured trying to get to a loose ball.  Salomon Kalou narrowly beat Sorensen's lunge putting the ball into the net.  Sorensen's right hand caught Kalou's cleat and his shoulder and elbow took the force of the impact.  Sorensen was stretchered off and taken to hospital where news of Sorensen's broken elbow sent shockwaves through the Denmark camp as their starting goalkeeper is in doubt for the World Cup.

A Frank Lampard penalty just before halftime seemed to be the harbinger of things to come in the 2nd half.  It was totally one way traffic after the break as Chelsea raced out 7-0 winners.   Goals from Kalou, Lampard, Sturridge and Malouda provided the final tally. 

The dazzling win not only put Chelsea back into first palce over Manchester United, but also decided that the tie breaker would go to Chelsea with their dominant goal differential.  Both teams have a pair of games left with Chelsea facing a difficult trip to Liverpool next weekend.