Champions Chelsea got their defence of the Premier League crown off to a flying start with a comprehensive 6-0 defeat of newly promoted West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge.
Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick for Carlo Ancelotti’s side with Florent Malouda (2) and Frank Lampard also getting on the scoresheet.
Malouda opened the scoring after only six minutes, tapping in after John Obi Mikel’s effort was blocked in the penalty area.
Didier Drogba got his first goal in first half injury time with a fine free kick from 25 yards to put the Blues two goals to the good going in at the break.
Drogba added another ten minutes into the second half, slotting home after John Terry’s header was cleared off the line and Frank Lampard followed it up with a lovely finish from an Ashley Cole pass to make it four after 63 minutes.
Drogba completed his hat-trick five minutes later when his shot took a huge deflection off Gabriel Tamas before hitting the net and Florent Malouda completed the rout on the stroke of full time, rounding Scott Carson and finishing to the net after Nicolas Anelka had played him in.
The result means that Chelsea have overtaken Blackpool at the top of the Premier League table.
